Levi Pennington & Elizabeth Henson Family

The earliest Pennington relative that I discovered is my 3^rd great grandmother.  With name of Elizabeth Pennington – she had an unfortunate commonality with a lot of female Penningtons, the first name of Elizabeth!  In my Pennington database alone, I have about 28 Eliza or Elizabeth Penningtons.    So even though I knew her name, it took a lot more time to figure out which Pennington line that she belonged to.  Turned out that she was the second youngest child of Levi Pennington and his wife, Elizabeth Henson – I have thirteen children listed for this family.  Some number their children as many as 16, but I have stuck with the 13 children that I can identify and connect through documentation.

Levi Pennington and Elizabeth Henson probably married around 1814 or 1815.  I doubt if it was much before that because Elizabeth Henson was born in 1799 and would have been a little young.  Here is a list of Levi and Elizabeth’s children:

• Dora  b. bet 1810-1820
• Edy b. abt 1815 d. abt 1866 m. abt 1835 Nathan Eastrage
• Hiley b. bet 1816-1818 d. 4 Nov 1895 m. Aug 1837 James Emmett Lewis
• Elijah Ephraim b. bet 1819 – 1822 d. Jan 1892 m. abt 1846 Mary Osborne
• William b. 1821 d. aft 1880 m. abt 1848 Frances Blevins
• Larkin b. Jan 1826 d. 6 May 1901 m. 11 Feb 1857 Lydia Lewis
• Harvey b. 29 Feb 1828 d. 21 Apr 1822 m. abt 1850 Easter Little m. abt Oct 1896 Martha Ann Brooks
• John b. 10 May 1829 d. 5 Mar 1917 m. 16 Feb 1859 Manda Hurley m. abt 1860 Emeline Kilby  
• Anderson b. 1832 d. 1850
• Andrew b. 1834 d. aft 27 Aug 1863 m. 5 Nov 1857 Mary Little
• Levi Daniel b. 1837 d. 17 Jan 1909 m. 17 Dec 1854 Elizabeth Osborn
• Elizabeth b. abt 1839 d. bet 1883-1887 m. 17 Jan 1857 Alexander Monroe Dollar
• Martha b. 29 Mar 1843 d. 21 Dec 1926 m. 21 Mar 1872 Marshall Gilley

If you read my previous 1940 Laurel Twp Census blogs – you will have found a prominent position for the children and grandchildren of Elijah Ephraim Pennington, John Pennington and Edy Pennington Eastrage.  These three children of Levi stayed in the Laurel area.  It is unknown where Edy is buried, but John is buried in a family cemetery in the Laurel area, and Elijah is in the Elijah A Shepherd Cemetery.    John Pennington’s name is fairly prominent because he acted as a Justice of Peace and you will find Elijah Pennington’s name quite often as well.  Especially at the Little Laurel Baptist Church where several of the stained glass windows are in memorial to he and other members of his family. 

Little Laurel Baptist Church

Elijah Pennington window

Isaac Pennington window

The land in the Laurel area that these families lived on were land grants that has been gained by Ephraim Pennington b. 1769 d. aft 1852 and in all likelihood his father as well (Probably Ephraim b. 1745).  We know that Ephraim had at least three sons – Levi b. 1794, Andrew b. 7 Sept  1813 and Daniel b. bet 1813-1814.  Ephraim is last recorded in the 1850 census, living with Andrew in Ashe Co., NC.  Andrew sells his land to his nephew and moved over to Laurel Bloomery, Johnson Co., TN and Daniel ended up moving to Claiborne Co., TN.

These close connections between families can make research at times somewhat difficult.  Just when you think you have your data correct…you learn yet another connection.  It is much easier than it was when I first started researching Pennington’s nearly 15 years ago.  There are more records available online and more researchers available via email to communicate with.  At least now, if someone is a descendant of an Elizabeth Pennington – I have 28 connected…and perhaps I can help!

1940 Laurel Twp, Ashe Co., NC - Penningtons (Part 3)

Photo of Big Laurel Creek - taken by Mary Almaroad

Onward to the rest of the census – in Laurel Twp in Ashe Co., NC.  I’m sorry to say that I don’t have a lot of insights into the remaining pages of the census records.  Mostly because we are out of the Pennington area that I know about.  That isn’t to say that we are completely out of Pennington relations in the area, though.

There is a close relationship in that township amongst several families.  They may not be related by blood but they are by history.  Most of the Farmers in the next several pages of the census are descended from Thomas Farmer and his 10 children,  I don’t even have anywhere close to a good database on theses Famers…but there are a few mentioned that are interesting.  On page 7A, there is a Ettie Farmer listed in the middle of the page.  Her maiden name is Pennington  (Her name should be Campbell and not Pennington - she was married to William Farmer as his second wife)  – I don’t know as yet where she fits.  Her son, Elmer, married Dora Pennington, daughter of Ephraim Stacy Pennington Maggie Roark.  In this census, Etta is the widow of William M. Farmer (he was the son of Calvin Farmer and Emeline Graybeal) and she is listed with 5 children and I still have to search for the rest of her children as she had 10 children.

This may be somewhat disappointing – but there really aren’t any other names that I recognize right away.  I recognize the last names of Eastridge, Graybeal, Osborne and Farmer and the Shepherd name on Page 7B is particularly interesting.  There are few cemeteries in the Laurel Twp that I have either visited or know about.  The Mock cemetery is one of them and there is also a Farmer cemetery – but the one that is probably most interesting to Pennington researchers is the Elijah Shepherd Cemetery.  This is where many of the Penningtons are buried.  Isaac and Elijah are there with many of their family members.  The remaining pages of the census must cover the lower section of the Laurel road.  Just because I don’t have the names in my database right now…this will be something that I will spend some time on. 

Elijah Shepherd Cemetery - taken by Carolyn Waters

Mock Cemetery sign near the road
Below the Mock Cemetery on the hillside
 - Taken by Mary Almaroad

Whenever you spend any time on a family that has lived in a specific region for a long time – you generally spend some time researching allied families.  There is a lot to be learned from this research.  Sometimes there are intermarriages; sometimes it is another location to search for cemetery records.  I am reminded of this because of an experience I had many years ago in Johnson Co., TN.  I was talking to a lady who had lived in Shingletown for most of her life.  She was at that point taking care of her elderly mother.  The lady shared with me some photos that she had of my cousins.  While I was there, I got some information on her family because she didn’t know all that much.  As I started tracing her line back, I found out that she was part of the same Pennington family as I…just a few generations back.  I also found that at least 60 % of those buried at the Wesley Methodist Cemetery in Shingletown had some relation to Andrew Pennington and his wife, Mary Elizabeth Pope.  So, even though I don’t have a complete picture of the rest of these families – if I take the time to get the basic information down on them, it may lead me down some research paths that I had not considered.  So…while I don’t know where the rest of these families fit – I will keep looking in my research materials to see if I can figure it out!

1940 Laurel Twp, Ashe Co., NC - Penningtons (Part 2)

I’m back on my 1940 Pennington search.  If you would like to read my previous article, go to http://genheirlooms.blogspot.com/2012/04/1940-laurel-twp-ashe-co-nc-penningtons.html - I left off with Page 2A of Laurel township.  As I am looking at Page 2B – there aren’t too many familiar names until I get to the bottom of the page where I find Kirby Pennington.

Kirby Smith Pennington is the 3^rd generation down from Levi Pennington and Elizabeth Henson through his father Melvin and Grandfather John Pennington.  He was married to the much younger Lula Victoria Jones.  She was born about 1906 to John C. Jones and Sallie – now, I don’t have her lineage right now, but the Jones family is also quite prevalent in this area. 

On page 3A – we move on to William Osborne who is married to Vertie Pennington, also the daughter of Melvin Pennington.  This is a great entry because it allows me to fill out names and birth years.  Williard is connected with the big three families in Ashe Co., NC – the Pennington by marriage and the Osbornes, Graybeals, and Estridges in his family background.  Even though I don’t see any other Penningtons on the rest of the page, evidently by notes listed on the far left – most of the information came from a neighbor named Mrs. Rash who supplied the census taker with the data.

It isn’t until the bottom third of the page until I find another familiar name.  Tom L. McCoy is the son of William McCoy and Mary Brown…several of his siblings married Pennington relations.  Near the bottom of the page is William Riley Pennington with his wife, Hattie Edmonson.  William is the grandson of Elijah Ephraim Pennington and Mary Osborne and the great grandson of Levi Pennington and Elizabeth Henson.

Page 4A has several familiar names, but no one I can identify exactly.  There is a widowed Maggie Pennington with son, Ethan…this will lead me into the pursuit to discover who they are.  Near the top of Page 4B is Quincy Williams with wife, Rosa – who is the daughter of Isaac Pennington and Martitia Osborne.  Next is another Jones and Oliver family.  This Oliver family is one of the more well known.  Etta Jane Pennington married James Oliver in 1914 and I believe their oldest daughter is still alive at near 97 years old.  Seeing that Ruth Oliver isn’t listed with her family and knowing that she is married to a Greer, I believe that she is at the top of the page with her husband Russell.   Next is an Eastridge family that is probably connected…but I don’t what it is.  Then comes Mack Farmer who I believe according to another researcher, has the original Levi Pennington home place.  Like many others, if they aren’t connected to the Penningtons, then they are to either the Osbornes or Graybeals, in this case Mack is the son of Emeline Graybeal.

So, ends a journey through another four pages of the Laurel township in Ashe Co., NC in 1940.  There is a reason that I spend so much time looking at peripheral families.   Sometimes my work with these families helps to fill in blanks in some of the other lines that I research.  Between funeral records and census records there is still lots of research to be done. 

1940 Laurel Twp, Ashe Co., NC - Penningtons (Part 1)

I have been tracing the Ephraim Pennington through land records, census records and cemetery records from the early 1800s to the present day.  Today, I got my first chance to take a look at the 1940 census through Laurel Twp in Ashe Co., NC.  Most of those still living in Laurel Twp., Ashe Co., NC can trace their families back to John Pennington and Emeline Kilby Pennington, Elijah Ephraim Pennington and Mary Osborne Pennington especially through their sons Isaac and Elijah.  They are all descended through Levi Pennington and Elizabeth Henson Pennington who was probably the oldest son of Ephraim Pennington b. 1769.  While I don’t have the time to peruse the entire census right now…I thought I would offer some information about those in Laurel Township.  Here are a few highlights.

Page 1A

The family of Ephraim Pennington has lived in the Laurel Township in every census from 1850 until 1930.  If you know where and who to look for, you can locate quite a few in this township.  On the very first page of the township, listed as the third family is that of T. W. Pennington also known as Watt Pennington who was the son of John Pennington and Emeline Kilby.  Just previous to the entry of Watt Pennington is that of J.Q. McCoy with his wife, Emma.  Emma was the daughter of Isaac Pennington whose father was Elijah Ephraim Pennington. 

Watt Pennington's house.

Page 1B

James Oliver is the head of one of the first families listed on the second page.  His wife, Birdie Mae is a daughter of Isaac Pennington and listed within their household is Martitia Osborne Pennington, Isaac’s widow.  Next is Roby Wilson Pennington, the son of Eliajah Amons Pennington and with his household is his mother, Polly Jane Osborne Pennington.  Levi Kelly Pennington is listed with his wife, Emma Lewis Pennington – Levi was the son of John Pennington and Emeline Kilby Pennington.  Rhudy Garfield Pennington is listed with his wife Danford and he is another son of Isaac and Martitia Osborne Pennington.  Then comes Nancy Graybeal Pennington, the widow of Melvin Smith Pennington – son of John Pennington and Emeline Kilby Pennington. After them are the parents of Danford Graybeal Pennington (wife of Rhudy Pennington).

Page 2A

I’m sure the Graybeals and Osborne’s listed at the beginning of this page are somehow connected…but I am not sure of their branch on the family tree, however the next name is recognizable.  Jesse Allen is a son of Tishia Louisa Pennington Allen who was a sister of Isaac and Elijah Amons Pennington – all three were children of Elijah Ephraim Pennington and Mary Osborne.   Clint Pennington is Elijah Clinton Pennington – a son of Isaac Pennington and Martitia Osborne and his third wife, Lillie Jones Pennington and their five children. At the bottom of the page is Freelis S. Owens with his wife, Ollie Pennington Owens, the daughter of Melvin Smith Pennington and Nancy Graybeal and granddaughter of John Pennington and Emeline Kilby.

In the few minutes that I just spent on a few pages of the 1940 census, I was able to fill in several birthdates that had previously been after 1930 as well as added a few children that I didn’t have.  This short exercise shows the promise of census records.  If you have a family group that has stayed in the same region for a long period of time, you can build a family tree using census records and cemetery records.  Those two types of records are extremely valuable in piecing together the threads of families who have lived in Laurel Township, Ashe Co., NC.