Pennington Family Genealogical Information - Material - Events
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Family Group 32
Family Group 32
Wells Pennington, b.
abt. 1781, Ashe Co., NC (m. Elizabeth Strunk)
Wells Pennington, b. abt. 1781, Ashe Co., NC (m. Elizabeth Strunk)
Wells Pennington is found in the Pulaski Co., KY Census of 1860 residing in
the household of Theophilus Pennington. Wells' age is listed as 81 and the State
of his birth is shown as Virginia. It is believed that Wells was born about 1779
- 1781
in that part of Grayson Co., VA that was in close proximity of what was to
become Ashe Co., NC in 1799. Wells is listed in the 1800 Ashe County census
along with nine other heads of
Pennington households including Benjamin, Ephraim, Ephraim, Jr., Levi, two Micajahs, Reuben and two Williams. One of these is quite probably the father of
Wells. Wells was about 20 years old at that time. Ephraim and Micajah are more
that 45 years old. Most of the others are in the 26-45 year range while Benjamin
and the younger William were in the 16-26 age range. The older William was at
the most 45, and might well
be the father of Wells.
Wells Pennington married Elizabeth Strunk of Maryland about 1800. She is thought
to have been born about 1779. Their household in the 1800 census lists only two
persons, a male and a female. Elizabeth Strunk's brother, Daniel, born about
1775, lived in the same area and was married to three different women including
an Honor (or Hannah) Pennington who was born about 1800. This marriage took
place in Whitley Co., KY. The relationship of Honor to Wells in unknown.
Four children are attributed to Wells and Elizabeth. Theophilus, who married
Penelope Junes, was born about 1802. Christina, who married Samuel Garland, was
born about 1804. Tabitha, believed to have been born in 1806, gave birth to a
son in 1828, believed to have been fathered by Enoch Smith. Tabitha later
married Samuel Hardwick. Arad, born about 1808 is said to have married three
times.
Wells Pennington moved his family to the Marsh Creek area of western Whitley
Co., KY about 1818. This section of the county has been part of McCreary County
since its formation in 1912.
In the mid 1820s Wells Pennington along with his son-in-law, Samuel Garland, and
Annie Jones, the sister of Penelope Jones, were involved in a fracas that
resulted in the death of Pleasant Johnson of Wayne Co., KY. The three were tried
in the Whitley County court for manslaughter. Wells was acquitted. Annie was
found guilty but was later retried and found innocent. Samuel Garland was
sentenced to four years and was in prison from 1826 to 1830.
The family relocated to Pulaski County, KY in 1828 and lived for many years near
Cedar Sinking Creek along the Pulaski/Wayne County line. Wells, Theophilus, and
Samuel Garland, as well as others in the family are named in numerous land
exchanges in both counties well into the 1850s.
Elizabeth Strunk is thought to have died in 1852. Wells died some time after the
1860 census. Theophilus lived out his life in the area and died in 1885. He is
buried at Thomas Cemetery at nearby Faubush, KY. He raised a large family, and
some of his children moved to Texas after the Civil War. Christina and Samuel
Garland also raised a large family. Tabitha is found living in Christina's home
in the 1880 census. Tabitha's son, Samuel, born in the spring of the year of the
family's move to Pulaski County, is almost certain to have been named
for Samuel Garland. He probably never knew of Enoch Smith. He married Martha
Walls and moved to Miller County, MO about 1852 where most of their 14 children
were born. While many of his cousins fought with the Confederacy, Samuel joined
the Union Army in 1861. He died in 1914. Arad also lived in the Pulaski/Wayne
area for many years, and was married three times.
Recent DNA results show Group 32 to be closely related to many of the other
Pennington groups. We are hopeful that in the near future many of these groups
can be consolidated.
Copyright
© 2005 William
J. Pennington, Former Family Group 32 Leader.
Group 32 Group Leader: Carmen Johnson
Page Last Updated: 07/19/2008
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