Family Group 6

Levi Pennington b. ca 1714 d. 1790 NC

Levi Pennington Sr., of which will be referred to as Levi I,  was educated, owned land in NC and is believed to have married into the Quaker faith.  It appears that Levi I had attempted to live within the required Quaker lifestyle but found it at times too constraining.  He was admonished on several occasions before he was dropped from the Quaker records during 1771.  

The first proven paperwork for Levi I is on 31 Jan 1756 through the Quaker records at New Garden MM, NC.  Levi I was on the tax lists  in Rowan, Randolph and Moore Counties, NC.   Levi I wrote his will in 5 Dec 1789 probated Jun 1790 Randolph Co., NC listing his wife as Martha and “my 5 children:  Isaac//  Rachel.Mary.Levi & Elizabeth”.  This, to me, could indicate a possible child or children born after Isaac that had died prior to the will or that Isaac had been born from a first wife with Martha being the second wife and mother of Rachel, Mary, Levi and Elizabeth.

Levi I’s age has been given an estimate based on the age of his wife, Martha, and tax records of 1779 and 1785.   In 1785, the one poll was for 1 male aged 21-50.  Martha’s birth date was recorded in the Center MM, NC records as 17 June 1714. 

                The first proven paperwork for Martha is 4 Jan 1765 Rowan Co., NC.  Martha signed with her mark for land that Levi I sold to John Mendenhall.  Martha's maiden name has not been proven.

                The only proven surname marriages of Levi’s children are for Rachel, Mary and Elizabeth.  Rachel and Mary were listed in the Quaker records as Rachel Pennington Perry disowned for marrying out of unity and Mary Pennington Graves disowned for marrying out of unity.   Elizabeth was listed as Elizabeth Beeson in her father’s will.

                Isaac, the 1st known born of Levi I, is the Isaac of Rowan Co., NC (Randolph, Cumberland, Stokes, Surry) Counties, NC and Henry (now Patrick) County, VA.  Joseph Pennington b. ca 1770-75 (not a Quaker) lives alongside and on paperwork with Isaac in various counties.  DNA testing by PRA gives a probable same genetics for Joseph Pennington Group 23 as for the Levi I Group 6.  On 27 Apr 1771, Isaac’s request to have his certificate transferred to Cane Creek MM was denied.  Isaac’s certificate was not accepted to Cane Creek MM until four years later on 4 Feb 1775.  Within four months after being accepted to Cane Creek MM, Isaac was disowned for marrying out of unity.   In 1880, Isaac's son, Jefferson, stated his father was born in New Jersey.  I have estimated Isaac's age as 1748.   Other than reference in the census, Isaac's birthplace has not been proven.   Should the census be correct, then Levi I's family was in New Jersey ca 1748.

                Levi II married an Elizabeth and was logged into the Quaker record on 3 June 1780 as disowned for marrying out of unity.  Levi II was executor of his father’s will along with Joseph Elliott.   Levi II moved to Spartanburg Dist., SC between 1802-1805.   In 1805, Levi II in SC and Joseph Elliott in NC as executors of the will of Levi Pennington Sr (I) sold Levi I's land.  It gives the appearance that Levi II waited to sell the lands until after the court answered his sister, Elizabeth’s, plea to be given her portion of the lands due her.

                No definite leads have been found on Rachel Pennington Perry.

                James Graves is being researched as a probable husband for Mary Pennington Graves.   James owned land in 1785 on south side of Rutland Creek,  in the 1790 census of Randolph Co., NC, and a short stay in 1809 Surry Co., NC.  This James appears to be the father of John Graves that married Betty Beeson and removed to AL with Capt. Edward Beeson and wife, Ann Pennington/Pendleton Beeson.   James Graves is in the research process and has not been proven as husband of Mary.

Paperwork on Elizabeth Pennington Beeson is last found in 1804 court papers of Randolph Co., NC.   Elizabeth asks the court for a divorce from her husband, Asahel Beeson, stating she had raised their 4 children alone for the past 14 years and,  also,  to receive lands she now lives on or will acquire.    Asahel had deserted Elizabeth and removed to SC prior to Levi I writing his will in 1790.    In his will, Levi I leaves home property, after death of Martha, to be passed on to grandson, Levi Beeson, as long as Elizabeth continues to live there.  The courts found in Elizabeth’s favor.

Quaker MM NC:

• New Garden MM in Capefair, Guilford Co., NC - Set up 1754 by direction of Perquimans and Little River Quarterly Meeting.  Men abstracted info extends from 1754-1878.  Women's minutes 1790 and on.  Women's minutes prior 1790 were destroyed in a house fire.
• Deep River @ Capefair - Located in western Guilford Co., NC about 12 miles from Greensboro.  Meetings authorized in 1778.  Preparative meeting at Deep River had been under the jurisdiction of New Garden MM prior to setting up of Deep River MM.
• Cane Creek - Orange (now Alamance) County, NC - Located 1.5 miles west of Snow Camp in Alamance Co., NC bordering now Chatham Co., NC.  Established 1751, located on Cane Creek in central part of area that had comprised Orange County.  Orange County was all of Caswell, Wake and Durham.  1771 Chatham, Guilford and Wake came from part of Orange Co. - Monthly meetings rotated between new Garden and Cane Creek between 1751-1754.
• Center, Guilford Co., NC Located on highway 62 directly south of Greensboro, NC and east of highway 220 about 1.5 miles. [Location given by Ronald R. Pennington]  Men minutes prior 1835 lost, women minutes prior 1845 lost. 

Copyright © 2004, Teresa J. Gorge

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For more information on Group 6, contact Melinda Pennington, Group 6 Leader

Page Last Updated:  10/18/2006

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