Sorting generations with the use of land records
Trying to sort many family generations of the same surname in a given
area, such as the New River area in North Carolina and the Pennington family,
we have to make a few assumptions as to the "age of events." The age of
a husband or wife at first marriage would be 18-21 years of age. A wife’s
age with the first child, or first child after marriage would be 21 years
of age. The gap between children would be two years on an average. You
could expect a mother’s age to be 40 with the last child. When a husband
first buys land he would be about 25 years of age. It would be the same
age for him serving a public role. However, it would be 60 years of age
with the last mention of serving in a public capacity. The death of a husband
or wife would be sixty years of age and up.
By adding the "age of events" to the ownership and placement of the
land we can start sorting the various generations. Following is a time
line of land ownership and miscellaneous records for the Pennington families
of NW North Carolina.
--------------------------------- The Granville District of North Carolina [Vol. 1, abstracts of Land
Grants]
The Granville District of North Carolina [Vol III, abstracts of Land
Grants]
Rowan County, North Carolina Deed Abstracts and Colonial Records
of North Carolina.
1753 Benajah Penington registers his brand in Salisbury, NC
1772 Ephriam Peneton and sons, Timothy and Richard on Rowan County tax
list
Wilkes County Land Entry Books, Deed Books B-1, D, G, H.
Abstracts of Land Entries of Ashe County, North Carolina
Location of the various properties seem to be around Salisbury for the
earliest recorded, followed by Mecklenburg County and lastly the present
day northern half of Ashe County, North Carolina. With the above records
and our "age of events" list will try to present a logical and preponderance
of evidence for the different generations.
For the first generation we will start with Ephraim. His date of 1762
exemption from taxes and public duties puts him in the 60 years, or over,
age bracket and a birth year of about 1700. Another in this same age bracket
would be "Old William Penington" who is mentioned in the 1779 land record
of Elijah Penington living on Grassy Creek in
Wilkes County. Given the 60 years for "old" in 1779 would make his birth
year about 1710 to 1720 well within the range to be a brother/cousin to
our Ephraim.
Now to our second generation. With the 1753 brand register of Benajah
and the 25 year age of event, the birth year for him would be about 1725
to 1730. This would be an acceptable age if he were a son of Ephraim above.
In 1788 Benajah is excused from a County levy because of his age. With
the 60 year rule this would make him born in 1728 and agree with the first
record for him.
The next name in this generation would be Levi Penington. The first
record we have for him is a 1759 tax record making his birth year about
1735. Still within the parameter of Ephraim’s children. The Family group
# 6 for Levi has his birth about 1714. If this is so, and he waited 45
years to generate a record, then he could be a brother to Ephraim. This
does not seem reasonable. Either the birthdate for group #6 is in error
or we are dealing with two Levi’s.
The next person on my list is Micajah Penington. For many years he has
been thought to be the son of Benajah. With many Pennington researchers,
and a hired professional, none could find one shred of evidence to substantiate
this claim. The first record we have for Micajah is 1765 [minus the 25
years for a first record] and a possible birth year of about 1740. We know
he was born in 1734 from a bible record and the right age to be Ephraim’s
not Benajah’s child. I don’t think Benajah would be having a son at
about age 6.
Others I would put in this generation would be Jacob with a possible
birth year of 1743 [This may be the Jacob of South Carolina], Stephen Penington
[1743], Abel [1753], Benjamin [1754], Elijah [1754. He may be connected
to "old William" because they lived near each other on Grassy Creek], Edward
[1754] and William [1755. This is not the William of Group 28. This William
was born ten years before the Group 28 William]
The last group would be another Levy, William of Group #28, Micajah,
Jr, Benajah, Jr, Ephraim, Timothy, Edward, and Wells Pennington. I have
no idea or comment on how the George Pennington of Anson County fits in
with this family, if he does. He would be in the age group of Benajah.
And there was a land record for Benajah in Anson County during the same
time George was recording his land records.
1 May 1754 William Gill l. rec. mentions Aaron Pennington [Edgecombe
County]
The Granville District of North Carolina [Vol II, abstracts of Land
Grants]
24 Oct 1754 John Boykin l. rec. mentions Edward Pennington [Northampton
County]
10 May 1755 Arthur Hart l. rec. mentions Edward Pennington [Northampton
County]
26 Oct 1754 Drury Jordan l. rec. mentions Edward Pennington
8 Nov 1757 William Giles l. rec. mentions Benaijah Pennington
Anson County, North Carolina Deed Abstracts [Formed in 1759 from
Bladen County]
26 Jul 1759 L. rec.for Saunders and Shepherd mentions George Pennington
5 Oct 1758 Keble to Hamer land record mentions Elizabeth Pennington
5 Feb 1761 Morgan Brown to George Pennington 600 acres N side Great
Pee Dee River, S fork Mountain Creek
6 Dec 1762 Carrell and Tallant l. rec. ment. George Pennington
6 Feb ____ Kuykendall and Hardin l. rec. ment. Banage Pennetton
25 Feb 1763 George Pennington to Joseph Dunham, 600 acres S fork of
Mountain Creek
13 Nov 1763 Crawford and Reed l. rec. ment. George Pennington
[Rowan
County, NC was formed from Anson County, NC in 1753]
22 Feb 1759 Granville to Benajah Pennington 100 acres on
east side of Yadkin
9 June 1759 Benajah Penington on Rowan County tax list
21 Oct 1760 Benajah & Elizabeth to Jacob Lykans, 100 acres on east
side of Yadkin.
8 Oct 1761 Ephrim Pennington listed on Rowan County tax list twice
6 Apr 1762. John Mills to Levi Pennington 231 1/2 acres on N fork Deep
River
28 April 1762 Mr Frohock presented a Certificate from the County Court
of Rowan recommenting Ephraim Pennington of Rowan county to be exempt from
paying Public Taxes and doing Public duties. Granted.
25 Mar 1764. Wm Hall to Levy Pennington 300 acres on Deep River
4 Jan 1765 Levi & Martha Pennington to John Mendenhall 231 ½
acres on N fork Deep River. Note: Ownership for only three years would
indicate Levi did not live on this land.
6 Apr 1765 Benajah Penington187 acres on Allison Creek W. side of Catawba
River in Mecklenburgh
6 Apr 1765 Micajah Pennington 152 acres on branch of Fishing Creek
in Mecklenburgh
3 Mar 1766 A Mr Pennington was reinstated to office of Comptroller
for Port of Charles Town
25 Apr 1767 Rebeccah Smith 200 acres in Mecklenburgh on Rockey Allison
Creek joining Benijah Pennington
[Wilkes
County, NC formed from Rowan County, NC in 1777]
24 Oct 1767 Jacob Pennington land mentioned in Robert Marrs land record
and located on
S. side of Enoree on a branch of Indian Creek
26 Oct 1767 Benijah Peneton 300 acres on Rocky Allison Creek in Mecklenburgh
16 Feb 1768 Levi Pennington to John Frohock 300 acres in forks of Deep
River
1768 Levey Penington and son Isaac listed on Rowan County tax list
23 Dec 1768 Stephen Penington land mentioned in land record of Lewis
Williams located in Onslow on SW branch of New River
1777 McEage Penington, Bennegey Pinninton, Sr, Benajah Pennington juernior,
Bajaman Pennelton signed Rowan County Petitions [1st list] Micaja
Penation, Binage Pininton, Jr, Connage Peninton [2nd list]
James Peninton, Thomas Pinnington, Wm Pennington, Henry Pennington,
Robert Pennington are listed on Rowan County tax lists
4 Mar 1778. Abel
Pennington 150 acres land he lives on. N. fork New River
20 Jun 1778 Wilkes County Pleas and Quarter Sessions court to try claim
of Enoch Osburn against Abel Penington’s Entry.
25 Jun 1778 Witnesses ordered to appear before Wilkes County jury on
claim of Enoch Osburn vs Abel Penington’s Entry
26 Jun 1778. Abel Pennington 100 acres on N. fork of New River
28 Jul 1778 Witnesses ordered to appear before Wilkes County jury on
claim of Enoch Osburn vs Abel Penington’s Entry
3 Aug 1778 "general verdict" Enoch Osborn vs Abel Penington: The land
is on both sides of N fork of New River and on both sides of Horse Creek:
We find the warrant should issue to said Osburn.
9 Sep 1778 Micajah Pennington 100 acres both sides New River
9 Sep 1778 Benajah Pennington 150 acres on Grassy Creek, New River
2 Jan 1779 Land record for William Lenoir has mention of Benajah Pennington
line and where Benajah Penington, Junr lives.
2 Jan 1779 land record of Benjamin Cleveland mentions land whereon
Benjamin Pennington formerly lived.
2 Mar 1779 Micajah Penington 100 acres on Elk Creek of New River
9 Jun 1779 Benjamin Penington 50 acres on Elk Creek [New River]
26 July 1779 Martin Gambill record mentions Micajah Penington land
on New River
No date Bennajah Pennington 100 acres on Martins Branch, waters of
New River
27 July 1779 Elijah Penington 100 acres on Grassy Creek of New River
BELOW OLD WILLIAM
PENNINGTONS
lower Line. [Note: later Elijah Penington was marked out, James Fletcher
written in.]
27 Jul 1779 James Fletcher 100 acres N. fork of New River. James
Fletcher marked out and Bennajah Pennington written in.
4 Sep 1779 James Fletcher 150 acres below Pine Creek mouth on N fork
of N side of New River. Fletcher marked out and Edward Penington written
in.
4 Sep 1779 James Fletcher 300 acres New River. Fletcher marked out
and Micajah Penington Junr written in.
No date Micajah Pinington, Senr 150 acres N. F. New River, Sileses
Creek mouth.
9 Sep 1779 Abel Pennington 150 acres N fork of New River
9 Sep 1779 Abel Pennington 150 acres N. fork of New River
9 Sep 1779 Abel Pennington 50 acres N fork of New River
8 Dec 1779 Micajah Pennington 200 acres on Holton Creek at Larel Cliff
20 Dec 1779 John Baker 100 acres on Pine CreekN fork of New River near
Turkey Knob. Baker crossed out. Edward Pennington written in.
23 Dec 1779 James Fletcher 100 acres N fork New River. Fletcher and
Micajah Pennington marked out. William Pennington written in.
6 Jan 1780 William Lenoir 200 acres both sides Little Helton Creek,
joining the Virginia Line below Benajah Penningtons im-Provement that lies
in Virginia.
1 Mar 1780 Johnathan Smith 100 acres spring branch mouth both sides
of River [?] Smith marked out, Levey Pennington written in.
8 Mar 1780 William McClain & Jonathan Smith 100 acres Old Field
Creek mouth, both sides River [?] McClain and Smith crossed out and Micajah
Pennington written in.
10 Mar 1780 William Pennington 50 acres N fork New River. Crossed out
and Samuel Tin--- written in.
22 Sep 1785 Micajah Pennington 95 acres on Elk Creek
22 Sep 1785 Micajah Pennington 100 acres N side New River above his
improvement.
31 Mar 1788 Deed bet. Micajah Pennington and Zachariah Wells 100 acres
New River
10 Jun 1790 Deed between Micajah Pennington and William Landreth 95
acres on Little Creek of New River. Wit. Edward and Levi Pennington.
20 Dec 1791 William Pennington 50 acres N fork New River
6 Oct 1792 Edward Pennington 100 acres N. fork "Knew" River
14 Oct 1793 Micajah Pennington 12 acres inWilkes County on N. fork
New River
"1794" Ephraim Penington 50 acres on S side of N fork of New River
[Ashe County, NC formed 1799 from Wilkes County, NC]
18 Feb 1800 Levi Penington 100 acres S side of N fork of New River
near mouth of Long Shool Creek
20 Feb 1800 Micajah Penington 50 acres W side of Syeleses Creek.
20 Feb 1800 Ephreim Penington 50 acres S side of N fork of New River
on Long Shool Creek
24 Feb 1800 Benajah Penington 100 acres on Sesleses Creek
24 Feb 1800 Micajah Penington 25 acres N side of Nfork of New River
on Syleses Creek
26 Feb 1800 William Penington 100 acres N side of N fork of New River
28 Feb 1800 Ephrem Penington 25 acres "runs down the ridge as the old
road leads to Lewis’ ford.
28 Feb 1800 Ephrem Penington 100 acres begins on head of a "dreen that"
the path comes up from said Penington’s to North fork Road.
10 Mar 1800 William Peningon 50 acres N fork waters of New River
10 Mar 1800 Levi Penington 50 acres W side of Bigg Horse Creek
24 Mar 1800 Micajah Penington 100 acres in the forks of New River near
Fox Creek
29 Mar 1800 Ephiarm Penington 100 acres S side of N fork of New River
1 Oct 1800 William Penington 50 acres N side of N fork of New River
4 Oct 1800 Levi Penington 100 acres S side of N fork of New River
4 Oct 1800 Levi Penngton 100 acres S side of N fork of New River on
lower fork of Long Shool Creek
14 Nov 1800 Benajah Penington 150 acres N side of N fork of New River
and near head of Island Branch
29 Nov 1800 Benajah Penington 40 acres runs west along the Virginia
line
3 Apr 1801 Walls Penington 100 acres E fork of Long Branch
16 Jul 1801 Levi Penington 100 acres S side of N fork of New River
on Long Shool Creek
16 Jul 1801 "Live" Penington 25 acres begins at said Penington’s N
line of survey where he now lives.
3 Oct 1801 Micajah Penington, Jr 150 acres on Sylers’ [Sylies?] Creek
30 Oct 1801 Micajah Penington 100 acres on Eza’s fork of Naked Creek.
23 Jan 1802 Walls Penington 100 acres both sides of Little Haltons
Creek.
24 Jun 1802 William Penington, Jr 50 acres on waters of Long "Shol"
Creek
3 Aug 1802 Benajah Penington 75 acres W side Syleses Creek
1 Dec 1802 Levi Penington 50 acres W side of Big Horse Creek
9 Dec 1802 William Penington 50 acres N side N fork New River near
head of Stronses Branch
1 Jul 1803 Wells Penington 50 acres on Roberds Branch, a "dreen" of
big Helton’s Creek
1 July 1803 William Penington 50 acres on Grasey Creek "to" Virginia
line
16 Jul 1803 William Penington 50 acres on big Heltons Creek
23 Jul 1803 William Penington 50 acres on waters of "Grase’ Creek
26 Aug 1803 Levi Penington 100 acres E side Syleses Creek
2 Sep 1803 Benajah Penington 50 acres E fork Syleses Creek
24 Sep 1803 Peter Eller and William Penington, Jr 100 acres between
N fork [of New River] on waters of Long Shole Creek
15 Nov 1803 Ephriam Penington 50 acres on waters of branch near where
said Penington lives
7 Dec 1803 Levi Penington 100 acres S side of N fork of New River on
head "dreens" of Ephraim Penington’s branch & on a dreen of Long Shole
Creek
19 Jan 1804 Walls Penington 50 acres Heltons creek
19 Jan 1804 Walls Penington 50 acres on waters of Heltons Creek
6 Feb 1804 Levi Penington 200 acres on Syleses Creek
3 Mar 1804 Micajah Penington 50 acres N side Sileses Creek
3 Mar 1804 Micajah Penington 50 acres by said Penington’s survey on
Island Branch
17 Dec 1804 Walls Penington 100 acres on waters of big Heltons Creek
21 May 1805 William Penington, Sr 100 acres N side of N fork of New
River on Old Field Creek
21 May 1805 William Penington, Sr 100 acres on New River N side of
big Heltons Creek
17 Jul 1805 William Penington 100 acres on waters of N fork of New
River on state line and runs on both sides of road from Rowan County.
18 Nov 1805 William Penington 100 acres N side of big Heltons Creek
18 Nov 1805 William Penington 100 acres S side of N fork of New River.
7 Dec 1805 William Penington 25 acres S side of N fork of New River
24 Jan 1806 Levi Penington 50 acres on Little Horse Creek
24 Jan 1806 Levi Penington 200 acres on Syleses Creek
24 Jan 1806 Levi Penington 100 acres E side Syles’ Creek
15 Feb 1806 Micaja Penington 300 acres on waters of big Horse Creek
towards head of Old field Creek
29 mar 1806 Wels Penington 50 acres on fork of Robrdses Branch of Big
Heltons Creek.
18 Jul 1806 William Penington 75 acres on Grasse Creek
3 Mar 1807 Benajah Penington 15 acres on waters of NakedCreek
3 Mar 1807 Benajah Penington 100 acres in Fenix Creek
10 Aug 1807 Walls Penington 100 acres on Sylases Creek
6 Jan 1808 William Penington Sr 350 acres N side N fork of New River
and on Little Pine Creek
6 Apr 1808 William Penington, Sr 15 acres on N side of N fork of New
River beginning on tract where he now lives
6 Apr 1808 William Penington, Sr 100 acres on N side of N fork of New
River beginning on tract where he now lives
6 Apr 1808 William Penington Sr 100 acres on S side of N fork of New
River
6 Apr 1808 William Penington Sr 100 acres on N side of big Heltons
Creek and on Robertses Branch