Powell Family of Lawrence County Tennessee
Front Row - Gracie Mae Powell, Lerlie Lee Powell, James Bertie Powell, Jacob Marion Powell, Jr., Johnny Andrew Powell, Nancy Bassham Powell, Eliza C. (Day)Fondren Powell (2nd wife of Dr. Jacob Marion Powell, Sr.)
Back Row: Ollie (wife of James Bertie Powell), Marion Houston Powell, Minnie Pearl Powell, Jacob Richard Powell, Cousin Eva Hagen, William Henry Powell, Jim Powell, Rose Ella Powell Estes
- Oldest Known Powell Ancestor:
- The 1870 census of Lawrence Co. shows my g-grandfather Jacob Marion Powell Sr. b 1834 in TN. The 1850 census shows that Jacob Marion was the son of Benjamin and Catherine Powell who were both born in South Carolina. Benjamin was born in 1787 and Catherine in 1790. But the 1850 census only showed 2 of his children, Benjamin D. age 24 and Jacob M. age 16, both born in Tennessee. I was able to find Benjamin in the 1840 and 1830 Lawrence Co. census but then I lost him. I searched the South Carolina census records for a Benjamin Powell that would match with what I knew. I found a Benjamin Powel in the 1820 Union County, SC census that seemed to match but I had no proof that it was him.
In June of 1996 my wife and I took a trip to Columbia, SC and I searched the South Carolina State Archives for a record of Benjamin prior to 1820. I went through all the Powell wills that I could find until I found one with a Benjamin in it. It was the will of Richard Powel of Union District dated 23 April 1801. In it he named his wife Sarah, 5 sons and 3 daughters. The sons were John, James, Benjamin, Richard and David. The daughters were Mary, Hannah and Rebekah. It indicated that all of the sons except John were under 21 years of age. John is obviously the eldest, then James because he is named as executor, then Benjamin, Richard and David. So my Benjamin fit the profile because in 1801 he would have been 14 years old. I checked the 1800 census for Union Co. and found Richard Powel, over 45 years of age with wife 26-44, 2M 16-25, 1M 10-15, 1M under 10, 2F under 10, and 2F 16-25. In the 1810 census for Union Co. I found Sally Powell, over 45 with 3M 16-25 and 1F 16-25. In 1820 the Union Co. census did not show Sally but showed Benjamin Powel, 26-45 with 2M under 10, 3F under 10, 1F 26-45 and 1F over 45. The over 45 female could be Sally Powel.
Outline Descendant Chart for Richard Powell
Genealogy Report for Richard Powell
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This page was last updated on January 9, 2004
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Last update: April 8, 2008