Written by Francis Marion Estell
in his own words
I am the youngest son of Thomas Estell, and being requested to write our family history, I will write it as my father and Mother gave it to me.
My Great Grand parents were of the Welch that settled in New Jersey in an early day. There my Grandfather was born and lived until he became his own man, who then went to Virginia and married his wife RACHEL ROSWELL, they settled in Albermarle County, close to the line of Augusta; the Blue Ridge divides the two countys. My Grandfathers name was THOMAS. Their oldest child was named AMMY, she married JOHN HUSE. The next was JOHN, he marreid POLLY McCOY; The next was STEPHEN, he married ABIGAIL ROBERTS. The next was THOMAS, who is my father. He was fourteen years old when grandfather moved to Scott County Kentucky. There father lived until he was his own man. He got acquainted with my mother, whose name was CHARITY WIGGINS. Her parents came from North Carolina, Guilford County. They were joined in the Holy bonds of Martimony, February 3, A.D. 1814. In the year of 1815, there was a son born unto them and they named him JOHN HIRAM. In 1817 a girl was born unto them SARAH, she died in her infancy. In 1818, a son was born and they called him THOMAS. In 1819 another son was worn and they called him STEPHEN. And in 1821 another son was born and they called him ALFRED and in 1822 another son was born and they called him JOSEPH. All of these were born in SCOTT COUNTY KENTUCKY, and they moved to INDIANA and settled in HENRY COUNTY, north of where Knightstown now stands. November the 16th 1824; there was but a few settlers in Henry County at that time. The Indians were here, they were friendly and traded with the white settlers. They were taken away west the year following. In the year of 1827 another son was born and they named him WESLEY. In the year of 1828 another son was born and they called him GEORGE. WASHINGTON and in the year of 1833 another son was born and they called him JAMES OLIVER, he died in his infancey. In the year of 1834 another son was born and his name is FRANCIS MARION, the one who is writing this. And in the year of 1836 a girl was born and they named her NANCY ELIZA. She is the youngest of twelve children and lived to be grown. we were all married but JOSEPH. He lived to be a batchler (bachelor) and died in the state of Missouri.