| Notes |
- RESEARCH_NOTES:
1. In Peter Eller's probate of 1799, there is a John Eller mentioned who could possibly be this individual (his brother) or possibly Peter's son John: FHL book 929.273 P684pn: "Graybill/Stoker/Eller/Smith/Koons/Pitt Connections," by Norman E. 'Gene' Pitt, 1996, pp. 119-123:
"An accounting of the sale of Peter Eller's personal estate after his death follows: The personal estate of Peter Eller was sold and an accounting reported to the Nov 1799 court of Wilkes Co., NC by John Eller, Adr. The property, 111 individual sales, consisted of household utensils and furniture, farm yard tools, and accessories, including one tomahawk, ten sheep, fifteen head of cattle, among which were a yoke of yearlings and one yearling bull, hogs, geese, beehives, etc. The widow took a good deal of the furniture and household accessories including interestingly enough a trumpet which indicates that the early Ellers possessed musical interest. Other items taken by her were one lot of books, a chest, five head of hogs, four cows, one mare colt, two sheep, oven hammer and anvil and a pair of saddle bags. Other purchasers were John Eller, Michael Bumgardner, Leonard Bumgardner, John Dick, Leonard Pfouts, Jacob Huntsinger, Daniel Dickson, James Dickson, James Cash, William Cash, Henry Michael Sr., Henry Michael Jr., Danien Michael, Thomas Baker, Alexander Smith who purchased the tomahawk and some of the farm animals and other items, David Smith, Frederick Younce, Christian Shear, Abraham Shear, Coonrod Coldiron, David Ingram, Balsar Raimer, Conrat Grub, William Colward, George Miller, John Calloway, Allen Nowlin, John Holman and John Tirey. The amount of the sale, including the items taken by the widow, totaled 300 pounds, 18 shillings, 7 pence. (Will Book 1, pp. 540-41, Wilkes Co., NC)."
2. There is a John Eller mentioned with Michael Stoker as chain carriers in the survey of some land in Wilkes Co., NC granted to Conrad Dick and later sold to Peter Eller. They are listed as neighbors. John may be this individual or Peter's brother John Eller.
3. Censuses:
1800 US: Ashe County, North Carolina. The total population for Ashe County, North Carolina in 1800 was 2785, including slaves. The 1800 Ashe County Census was the first for the northwestern most county in the Tar Heel State. This county was formed in late 1799 and included all of Wilkes County west of the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountain. The 977 square miles that then composed Ashe County has been further divided, first in 1849 to form Watauga County, North Carolina and again 10 years later to form Alleghany County. This record includes families who may have been living in those areas at the time. The original census was in rough alphabetic order, and this does not facilitate the research of particular communities. I include all interrelated families of this time and place to better show relationships. A word of explanation on some of these families:
A. Mary and Barbara Burkett who married Peter and David Graybeal, had a father named Christian - unsure as to which is correct of the two.
B. Elizabeth Eller appears to be Elizabeth Dick, the wife of Peter Eller who had just died per his probate of 1799.The one daughter is probably Mary; unsure who the two boys are since there should be three: Jacob, Henry, and George. John Eller would be Elizabeth's eldest son and married to Susannah Kerns.
C. Henry Graybeal would have recently married Celia Henson and also the eldest son of [John] Peter and Christina [Wampler] Graybill who also appear to be in this same census. Note that Peter evidently had owned slaves at that time - the census does not say how many.
D. One of the William Hensons could be somehow related to William Henson who marries Nancy Graybill and to Celia Henson who marries Henry Graybeal.
E. The two Koons are probably brothers and are sons of Devault Koon judging from their ages. This would make them uncles to George Koons who eventually marries Mary Eller.
F. James Lewis, b. abt. 1790, marries Christena Graybill in 1807 - there may be a connection with these two James Lewis.
G. William Pennington marries Barbara (or Elizabeth) Eller and may be the younger of the two here listed.
H. Michael Stucker is a misspelling for Michael and Catherine Eller Stoker with their three oldest children: Polly, David, and Elizabeth.
Head of Family; Males 0-9, 10-16, 16-26, 26-45, 45+; Females - 0-9, 10-16, 16-26, 26-45, 45+:
Burkett, Christian; 1-2-0-1-0; 1-0-2-0-0
Burkett, Christian; 4-1-0-1-0; 1-0-1-0-0
Eller, Elizabeth; 1-0-1-0-0; 0-0-1-0-1
Eller, John; 3-0-0-1-0; 1-0-0-1-0
Graybeal, Henry; 0-0-1-0-0; 2-0-1-0-0
Graybeal, Peter; 2-1-1-0-1; 3-1-0-0-1
Henson, William; 0-1-1-0-0; 2-0-1-0-0
Henson, William; 3-0-0-0-1; 1-1-1-0-0
Koons, George; 0-0-1-0-1; 0-0-0-0-1
Koons, John; 0-0-1-0-1; 0-1-2-0-1
Lewis, James; 2-2-1-0-1; 4-1-0-0-1
Lewis, James, Jr.; 1-0-1-0-0; 1-0-1-0-0
Pennington, William; 0-1-0-1-0; 1-2-1-0-1
Pennington, William; 0-0-1-0-0; 0-0-1-0-0
Stucker, Michael; 1-0-0-1-0; 2-0-0-1-0
1810 US: Ashe County, North Carolina; I include several related families in my database for this time and place. Some notes:
A. One of the two William Penningtons is married to an Eller - I assume it is the one with a younger wife.
B. One of the two Christian Burketts is probably the parent of Barbara and Mary who married Graybeal brothers.
C. James Lewis married Christina Graybill.
D. The older Peter Graybill would be John Peter and Christina Wampler Graybill. The other Peter and Henry would be their sons.
E. Adam Wilker could be Adam Welker, father of James Welker who later marries Elizabeth Stoker.
F. Surprisingly there is no Michael Stoker who should be there unless in adjoining county.
G. One of the two George Koons should be the George Koons of this database.
H. Not sure why two J. Ellers unless the transcriber inadvertently named the "J." as both Jacob when in fact the older one is John. Peter Eller would be a brother.
I. The older Peter Graybill would be John Peter Graybill, father of the other two Graybills: Henry and Peter [Jr.].
Head of Family; Males 0-9, 10-16, 16-26, 26-45, 45+; Females - 0-9, 10-16, 16-26, 26-45, 45+; Slaves:
Pennington, W. (William); 1-0-1-0-0; 2-0-1-0-0
Bourket C. (Christian); 2-2-2-0-1; 5-1-1-1-0
Wilker, A. (Adam); 0-1-2-0-1; 0-1-0-0-1
Graybill, H. (Henry); 3-0-0-1-0; 2-0-1-0-0
Lewis, J. (James); 1-0-1-0-0; 1-0-1-0-0
Graybill, P. (Peter); 0-1-0-1-0; 0-1-0-0-1
Graybeal, P. (Peter); 1-0-1-0-0; 1-0-1-0-0
Graybill, H.; 2-0-1-0-0; 3-0-0-1-0
Koons, G. (George); 2-0-0-1-0; 2-0-0-1-0
Pennington, W. (Wm); 2-0-1-0-0; 2-0-0-0-1
Eller, P. (Peter); 3-0-0-1-0; 2-0-0-1-0
Eller, J. (Jacob); 2-3-1-0-0; 2-0-0-1-0
Burket, C. (Christian); 4-1-0-0-1; 0-1-0-0-1
Koontz, G. (George); 1-0-0-1-0; 2-0-1-0-1; 3
Eller, J. (Jacob [John?]); 2-0-0-1-0; 1-0-1-0-0
1810 US (Variant): Carolina, Rowan, North Carolina, p. 14 of 33:
John Ellor Sen'r, males: 1-1-1-0-1, females: 2-2-0-0-1.
1820 US: Wilkes Co., NC, p. 29 of 57:
John Eller, males: 1@10-16, 1@16-18; 2@16-26, 1@45+; females: 1 under 10, 1@10-16, 1@16-26, 1@45+.
4. FHL Book 929.273EL54h "George Michael Eller and Descendants of His in America," compiled by James W. Hook, 1957, also on FHL film 896571, item 2, pp. 17-31, clarifies early North Carolina counties and land grant practices:
"Land grants in North Carolina originated with an entry application which was filed in the county where the land was situated and if not lost are now on file there. This was followed, sometimes soon and sometimes years later by an order from the land office for the tract to be surveyed. Sometimes soon and sometimes years later the survey was made and a surveyor's plat filed with the Secretary of State in Raleigh. Then came the grant which may have been issued reasonably near the date of the survey or sometimes several years later. These grants, orders to survey and the survey itself are on file now in the Secretary of State's office at Raleigh...
Many counties were formed from what originally was Rowan County, namely Surry and Guilford in 1770, Burke and Wilkes in 1777, Randolph in 1779, Iridell in 1788, Stokes in 1789, Buncomb in 1791, Ashe in1799, Davidson in 1822, Yancey in 1833, Davie in 1836 and Yadkin in 1850. Some of these counties were grandchildren of Rowan County; for instance Wilkes was taken partly from Burke and partly from Surry, Randolph from Guilford, Buncomb and Yancy form Burke, Ashe from Wilkes and Stokes and Yadkin from Surry. These facts must be kept in mind when tracing early Rowan County families."
5. FHL book 929.273 P684pn: "Graybill/Stoker/Eller/Smith/Koons/Pitt Connections," by Norman E. 'Gene' Pitt, 1996, pp. 119-123:
"John Eller, b. abt 1767/9, probably in Frederick Co., MD; d. 1823, Wilkes Co., NC; bur. in the Robert Cleveland Burial Ground abt a mile beyond the New Hope Cemetery on the road to Parsonsville (there is no marker on his grave); md. abt 5 Nov 1792, Rowan Co., NC to Susanna(h) Kern(s). She was b. abt 1765/6, possibly in Guilford Co., NC; d. 10 Apr 1853; bur. in New Hope Cemetery, Parlears (northwest of North Wilkesboro), NC. Evidently, they moved from Ashe Co., NC to Wilkes Co., NC in 1816. They appeared to be large landowners. Their children were Simeon, David, John Jr., Rachel, Absolom, Peter, Delilah Gazia and Mary 'Polly'."
6. The book "The Howard Leytham Stoker Von Dollen Family Histories," FHL 929.273 H833a, by Doris Lewis, 2017 So. 80th Ave., Omaha, Nebraska, 68124, p. 89:
"Peter was the first son of George Michael Eller. Because there were a number of years between Peter's birth and the others, the question arises if he might not be a child of a first marriage. He grew up in North Carolina and married Elizabeth Dick in 1766. His land grant was close to other Ellers, beginning at the spruce pine on the Upper Ford on Rones Creek. In 1797 he bought the 70 acres which had been granted to his father-in-law, Conrad Dick. This land had been surveyed and chain carriers were listed as Michael Stoker and John Eller, neighbors. Peter had 470 acres at his death... There oldest daughter, Catherine, married Michael Stoker and their youngest daughter, Mary, married George Koons and their great granddaughter, Betty Oman married Orson Hyde Stoker. Children:
a. John, b. 1767 or 1769; d. 1823; m. Susanna Kerns.
b. Catherine, b. 6 Mar 1773 at Rowan Co., NC; d. 1850 at Council Bluffs, Iowa; m. Michael Stoker.
c. Elizabeth, b. 1780; m. William Pennington.
d. Barbara, b. 1782; m. Pertune.
e. Mary, b. 1783, NC; d. 1872; m. George Koons (a Quaker who was disowned for marrying Mary, who was a Dunkard). She was 18 and he 19.
f. Jacob, b. 1784; d. 1855; m. Catherine White.
g. Henry, b. 1788; d. 1876; m. Elizabeth Johnson.
h. George."
7. The book "The Howard Leytham Stoker Von Dollen Family Histories," FHL 929.273 H833a, by Doris Lewis, 2017 So. 80th Ave., Omaha, Nebraska, 68124, pp. 102-105, mentions John Eller as the father of David Eller who married Tabitha Judd, sister to Margaret Judd who married Eller Stoker. Tabitha and David Eller were baptized by Michael Stoker in 1836 per Michael's journal [see his notes]:
"Margaret's parents are given on the following page. John Judd was the son of Nathaniel and Elizabeth Judd. I do not know his mother's maiden name nor the names of the other children in the family. Nathaniel was in Pittsylvania, Virginia, with his brother, Rowland Judd, in 1767. In 1771, the brothers were in Surry County, North Carolina, later to be Wilkes County. All land in North Carolina had to be registered in 1778 and records show Nathaniel and Towland on land by the Reddies River in Wilkes County. The Judds were respected in their community and were listed frequently on early Wilkes County records. Rowland was the tax assessor and the overseer to build the road from Deep Ford Hill to the top of the Blue Ridge Mountains. John Judd was appointed a County Justice in 1816. Perhaps John intended to go back some day to North Carolina, for his farm, consisting of 790 acres, was not sold until after his death in Wayne County, Indiana, in 1838. Judge Johnson Hayes, a U.S. District Judge and the author of the 'The Land of Wilkes,' now lives on the old John Judd farm. Rhoda Shepherd was born on a farm in Wilkes County soon after her family had moved from Virginia. She married neighbor John Judd, and they raised their eight children in Wilkes County. They went west in 1827 or 8, settling first in Ohio, where they became members of the Latter Days Saints Church, then on to Wayne County, Indiana, where John died. Rhoda was living on the Des Moines River in Iowa, when her daughter Margaret, married Eller Stoker in 1839. Margaret and Eller had a widowed mother living with them a few years later in Illinois, and it may have been Rhoda. Children:
a. Elizabeth Judd, b. 1802; m. William Welch.
b. Tabitha Judd, b. 1803; m. David Eller, son of John Eller, brother to Catherine and Mary Eller.
c. Allen Judd, b. 1810; m. Hester Burns.
d. Sarah Judd, b. 1813; m. Thomas Oler.
e. Thomas Judd, b. 1815; m. Margaret Oler.
f. Mary Judd, b. 1817; m. Alvin Winegar.
g. Margaret Judd, b. May 29, 1822; m. Eller Stoker.
h. John Judd, Jr., b. 1824.
[Note that the book also contains more information on Rhoda Shepherd's ancestry.]"
8. Burketts, Graybeals, and Ellers mentioned in the book "History of Western North Carolina," by John Preston Arthur, 1914, chapter 8:
"Some Early Settlers of Ashe. These noble, self-sacrificing men and women of the early times endangered their lives and braved many hardships in the wild Indian country to open the way to happy homes, schools, churches and the blessings of our present civilization. Some of these were Henry Poe, Martin Gambill, Thomas Sutherland, Timothy Perkins, Captain John Cox, Henry Hardin, Canada Richardson, James Douglas, Daniel Dickson and Elijah Galloway. Besides these were many others whose names awaken much unwritten history: Miller, Blevins, Ham, Reeves, Woodin, Barr, Baker, Eller, Goodman, Ray, Burkett, Graybeal, Houck, Kilby, Ashley, Jones, Gentry, Smith, Plummer, Lewis, Sutherland, McMillan, Colvard, Barker, Senter, Maxwell, Calhoun, Sapp, Thomas, Worth, Oliver and others."
Another reference to Ellers: "Jacob, Henry, and John Eller. They were sons of Christian Eller, once a resident of the Jersey Settlement in Davidson County. The two former came to Ashe and settled on the North Fork of New River, reared large families, and were successful, useful, respected citizens. Their sons were Peter, Luke, William, John, David and Jacob. John settled on the South Fork and later moved to Wilkes. His sons were Simeon, David, Absalom, John and Peter, who reared large families which are scattered over Western North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Iowa and Nebraska. (From information furnished by Hon. A. H. Eller, 1912.)" [Kerry's note: the part of these three Ellers being sons of Christian Eller is incorrect.]
9. Land transaction and proximity mentioned in biography of Henry Eller, son of Peter Eller and Elizabeth Dick per FHL Book 929.273EL54h "George Michael Eller and Descendants of His in America," compiled by James W. Hook, 1957, also on FHL film 896571, item 2, pp. 172-176:
"Henry Eller, b. 1786/1788; family records said he died about 1876 at the age of more than 90 years. The 1850, 1860, and 1870 censuses of Ashe Co. give his age as 62, 72 and 80 respectively. These records indicate a birth year of 1786/88 and a death year of 1876. He married, about 1812/1813, Elizabeth Johnson, b. according to the 1850 census of Ashe Co., NC, in 1791/92, her age being given as 58 years. The 1860 and 1870 censuses give her age as 68 and 80 respectively. She was born in Iridel Co., NC. Henry Eller entered 250 acres of land on the North Fork of New River, 16 July 1812. This land was surveyed 8 Sep 1813 and granted to him 23 Dec 1813. (Grant 840, Secy. of State's Office, Raleigh, NC.) The land was on the north side of 'feneck' (Phoenix) Mountain and bordered the 150 acre farm surveyed to Michael Stucker (Stokard, Stoker). The survey, dated 8 Sep 1813, was attested by Peter and Jacob Eller. Henry Eller figured in several land transactions in Ashe County after 1812. In one, dated 9 Dec 1819, he purchased 90 acres of land from George Koons for $150.00. This land was in Ashe County on the south side of the North Fork of New River 'to my south line and down to the conditional line made between Abraham May and John Dick Jr. against the mouth of Piney Creek being part of the 150 acre tract where Thomas Brooks Mill formerly stood.' George Koons, doubtless, was Henry's brother-in-law, the husband of Mary Eller, shown in... herein [see notes in this database for George Koons and Mary Eller]. The sale was made about the time that George and Mary Koons left North Carolina for their new home in Henry County, Ind. Mary Koons' name does not appear in the deed but this is not strange because the dower rights of wives were often not mentioned in early deeds of Ashe and Wilkes Counties. Later deeds indicate that Henry Eller's farm in 1845 consisted of 240 acres.
The records show that Henry Eller's brother-in-law, Michael Stoker (Stokard, Stucker) as well as his brother-in-law, George Koons, lived on farms adjoining his on the North Fork of New River. His brothers, Peter and Jacob, lived nearby while his brother John lived on the south fork of New River near where Peter Eller Sr., their father, late deceased, lived. About 1816 John and Peter moved to lower altitudes in Wilkes County, John to Lewis Fork Creek west of Wilkesboro on a farm of 451 acres and Peter to a farm on Ceroles Creek."
10. FHL Book 929.273EL54h "George Michael Eller and Descendants of His in America," compiled by James W. Hook, 1957, also on FHL film 896571, item 2, pp. 69-87:
"John Eller was born probably in Frederick Co., Maryland, about 1767/9 and died in Wilkes Co., North Carolina in 1823. He married, license issued in Rowan Co., NC, 5 Nov 1792, Susannah Kerns (Kern), who was born in 1765/66 and died, according to her gravestone in New Hope Cemetery, N.W. of North Wilkesboro, NC, 10 Apr. 1853, aged 87. Since her first child was named Simeon, it can be inferred that her father was of the same name and perhaps the Simeon Kern of Rowan Co., NC, mentioned in Vol. 3, No. 3, Nat'l. Gen. Society, pp. 14-22, and he, in turn, could have been related to Simon Kern of Frederick Co., MD found first in the records of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of that county 31 Oct 1746 when, with others, he was called one of the 'Brethren which built the church in the mountains and in the new town, Frederick Town' and his loyalty to the church attested to. (Pp. 489, 490 of the church records at the Maryland Hist. Society in Baltimore, MD.) Simon Kern m. 5 Apr 1749 Christina Hoffin (Hoffner) and recorded in the church records the birth of a son Johan Jacob on 27 Nov 1754 and of a dau. Marie Barbara on 28 Feb 1758. (Evangelical Lutheran Church Record, pp. 368, 38, 52.) Simon Kern died in 1761. His administration Bond shows that the administration of his estate was given 25 Aug. 1761 to Jacob and Christian Hoover and Michael Romod and joseph Nardman as their sureties. (Admin. Accounts, Vol. 38, 1760-62, Hall of Records, Annapolis, MD.) Simon Kern may have been the Joh. Simon Kern, aged 25, who came from Germany to Pennsylvania on the ship 'St. Andrew' and took his oath of allegiance 7 Oct 1743.
Later records of the German Reformed Church and the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Frederick County, MD, show other Kern (Karn) family records... [the book details extensively many other Kern records in Frederick Co.; however, he does not specifically link them to North Carolina or to Susannah Kerns.]
Family tradition says that Susannah Kerns, wife of John Eller, was born in Guilford County, NC on a farm located near the Guilford Courthouse battlefield, north of Greensboro but this writer could find no support for this in the records. He did find the will of one John Karn (sic) of Rowan County dated 26 Apr 1794 in which the testator mentioned his sisters Susanna, Esther, Mary and Ann and brothers Daniel and Peter. (Rowan Co., NC Wills.) It could be that this John Karn and his brothers and sisters were children of Simeon Kern of Rowan Co., NC, and that the Susanna mentioned in the will was the one who married John Eller but there is no proof.
There was one or more Kern (Kerns, Keehn) families in Rowan County prior to 1800. Leonard Kern and Peter Keehn appear on the Rowan County, NC, list of taxables in 1759. ('The Rowan Story,' by James S. Brawley, p. 354.) A Rowan Co. deed dated 6 Feb 1762 shows Conrad Kern to be the attorney and heir of Conrad Michael. (Deed Book 7, p. 394.) Another deed in Rowan Co., dated 5 Feb 1777 shows Conrad Kern and John Kerns as being 'nephews of Conrad Michael, late of the German Empire.' (Deed Book 8, p. 550.)
The first record of John Eller found by this writer was his marriage license, issued in Rowan County, NC, 5 Nov 1792. The fact that it was issued in Rowan Co. indicates that his fiancé, Susanna Kerns, was then a resident of that county. According to her gravestone in the New Hope Baptist Church burial ground located about six miles north and west of North Wilkesboro, NC near Rendezvous Mountain, she died 10 April 1853, aged 87 years. This would make her birth year 1765 or 1766. Her husband John Eller was buried in the Robert Cleveland burial ground about a mile beyond on the road to Parsonsville. There is no marker at his grave. After the death of his wife plans were laid by his family to place his remains beside hers in the New Hope cemetery but old residents in the vicinity declare that this was never done.
John Eller doubtless lived with his father on Reedy Creek in Rowan County until the latter removed to his Rones Creek farm in what was then Wilkes but after 1799, Ashe Co. The surmise is that he was not living with his father when the 1790 census was taken and did not settle in or near his father's farm on Rones Creek until after his marriage. His first son Simeon was born in Wilkes Co. 7 Sep 1794 and on 27 Oct 1795 he witnessed the deed by which his father, Peter Eller, conveyed 200 acres of land on Rones Creek to Gabriel Barn. (Deed Book B-1, p. 466, Wilkes Co., NC) On 13 April 1795 he and Michael Stuckers (Stoker) helped to survey 70 acres of land on Rones Creek for Conrad Dick, his grandfather probably.
On 27 Dec 1797 fifty acres of land on the east bank of the south fork of New River at Johnson's Corner and running south up the river 20 poles to said Eller's old corner etc. was granted to John Eller (Grant No. 1528, Secy. of State's office, Raleigh, NC).
On 29 July 1799 Betsey and John Eller made application to the Court of Pleas of Wilkes County for Administration on the Estate of Peter Eller, deceased. They gave John Bowers and John Koons for security, these two being bound in the sum of 800 pounds and qualified as the law required. Betsey Eller, doubtless was the deceased's widow and mother of John Eller. Late in 1799 Ashe County was formed out of Wilkes County.
The 1800 Federal Census of Ashe County, NC shows John Eller, aged between 26 and 45 with wife of same age and with one female and two male children all under 10.
The 1810 census shows John Eller and wife each under 45 indicating that neither was born earlier than 1765 and with one male 16-26, three females 10-16, and two males under 10.
The 1820 Federal Census of Wilkes County show John Eller and wife both over 45 with two males, aged between 18-26, one female aged between 16-26, one male 16-18, one male 10-16, one female 10-16 and one female under 10.
If the above three censuses are correct then both John Eller and his wife Susannah were born between 1765 and 1774.
The land records of Ashe County reveal the following purchases and sales of land by John Eller; probably not a complete list.
29 Jan 1802 John Eller purchased 200 acres on Obids Creek from Joel Gibson paying 185 pounds for same. (Deed Book A, p. 213)
9 Mar 1802, John Eller sold this same land to David Hank receiving 300 pounds for same. (Deed Book B., p. 447.)
7 Aug 1804, John Eller sold to Christian Burkard 290 acres of land in Ashe County on Ha's Creek, a branch of the south fork of New River, receiving 500 dollars for same. (Book B, p. 177.)
11 Nov 1806, John Eller purchased from Alexander Smith about 250 acres of land on the 'North side of a ridge that divides the Silarey Branch form the River Branch' paying 200 dollars for same. (Deed Book D, p. 519.)
17 Sep 1816 and 11 Feb 1817 John Eller joined other heirs of Peter Eller, deceased, in selling land that formerly belonged to the said Peter Eller.
The home of John Eller in Ashe County, according to the writer's uncle, the late Reverend William H. Eller, was located on the east side of the south branch of New River where the bridge on the main road from North Wilkesboro to Jefferson now crosses. In his time there was no bridge but only a ford. The Eller domicile was about 100 yards east of the ford and for many years after the occupants vacated it, it was marked by an old stone chimney and the remains of an apple orchard that once belonged to the Eller farm.
John Eller, seeking relief from rheumatism, removed to the lower altitude of Wilkes County in 1816 when, on March 11 of that year, he purchased from Thomas Fletcher three parcels of land on the north fork of Lewis Fork Creek beginning at Col. Cleveland's old corner and running to a dividing line between Robert Cleveland and John Cleveland, then along several courses of Benjamin Cleveland's old line etc., one of said tracts adjoining the line of Nathaniel Vannoy's land, the three tracts together containing 451 acres. (Deed Book K, p. 267, Wilkes Co., NC) Here he lived until his death in 1823. He was buried in the family cemetery of Robert Cleveland on the road from Parlears to Parsonsville. His five sons also settled nearby and this writer in October 1954, was shown their farms all located north west of Parlears, NC on the winding road to Parsonsville.
A precious memento of the John Eller household is the family bible in which is recorded the birth dates of all but the youngest child Mary of his family. It also records the birth of Simeon Bumgarner on 8 Jan 1808. It was printed in the German language at Halle, Germany in 1770. It may be the same Bible that George Michael Eller, John's grandfather, willed to his son Jacob because on page 17 is written the words 'Jacob Eller his Bible.' There is also written on page 15 of the Vorrede, or preface, the words 'The holey Bible of Peter Eller.' (See George Michael Eller's Will.) Of course these bits of writing, all in English, could have been placed there by later members of the family. The Bible is now owned by Mr. Wade Eller of Warrensville, Ashe County, NC, son of Jacob Eller (David, Jacob, Peter, George Michael). Regretfully it records nothing about John Eller or his wife. The Simeon Bumgardner whose birth on 8 Jan 1808 is recorded in the old Bible very probably was a son of a sister of John Eller who had married, probably, James Bumgarner. Proof of this however has not been definitely established.
The children of John Eller and his wife Susannah Kerns were:
a. Simeon Eller, b. in what is now Ashe Co., NC, 8 Sep 1794; d. in Wilkes Co., NC, 19 Jun 1850. He m., license issued in Wilkes Co. 16 Apr 1817 Fanny McNiel, b. 12 Jan 1799; d. 4 Oct 1856. She was a dau. of James McNiel, ([grandfather] Rev George). Both lie buried in the New Hope Baptist Church yard on the road from Parlears to Parsonville in Wilkes Co. [The book has extensive biographies on the descendants of this couple.]
b. David Eller, b. 11 Apr 1796; d. 18 Mar 1870. He was twice married firstly, 18 Oct 1819, to Tabitha Judd, b. 27 Jun 1803; d. 27 Mar 1847; and secondly, 27 Feb 1848, to Mrs. Mary A. Lyons, b. 19 Dec 1822 whose children by her first husband were Alhora (Elvira) and David. He removed first, in 1828, to Wayne County, Indiana and from there, about 1838, or 1839, to Jefferson Co., Iowa where he lived as a farmer until his death. [The book has extensive biographies on the descendants of this couple.]
c. John Eller Jr., b. 17 Mar 1798; m., license issued in Wilkes Co., NC, 20 Apr 1820, Elizabeth Ray Vannoy, b. 29 Oct 1804; d. 24 Aug 1868. She was a dau. of Jesse Vannoy and his wife Mrs. Mary Shepherd, born Mary Kilby, dau. of William Kilby and his wife Mary Ann Todds. Family lived on Lewis Fork Creek in Wilkes Co., NC. [The book has extensive biographies on the descendants of this couple.]
d. Rachel Eller, b. 12 Apr 1800; d. 26 Dec 1850, (Bible record, gravestone says b. 20 Jan 1801) m. 22 Aug 1820, license dated 19 Aug 1820, in Wilkes Co., John McNiel, b. 30 Jan 1796; d. 21 Jan 1877. [The book has extensive biographies on the descendants of this couple and also of the McNiel family.]
e. Absalom Eller, b. 17 Feb 1803, d. 7 Feb 1879; m. 1 Mar 1824, license dated 28 Feb 1824 in Wilkes Co., Sally Reynolds, b. 16 Feb 1805; d. 6 Mar 1875. The farm of Absolom and Sally Eller was located on Parlears Creek, Wilkes Co. NC. [The book has extensive biographies on the descendants of this couple.]
f. Peter Eller, b. 17 Mar 1805; d. 7 Nov 1872; m. 1st Fanny Yates. She was a dau. of John Yates and his wife Elizabeth Cleveland, the latter b. 15 Jul 1783, dau. of Robert Cleveland. He m. 2nd, 16 Nov 1863, Louisa Church, b. 1835/6. Peter Eller was a prominent man in early Wilkes County. He served two terms in the NC Legislature and was a member of the NC Constitutional Assembly. He and his brother Simeon established the old Academy in Wilkesboro, one of the first schools of higher education in Western North Carolina. He was chosen Colonel of the Wilkes Co. Militia and served in that capacity for many years. His brother Simeon was chosen Captain at the same time. He was a member and chairman of the first board of superintendents of free public schools in Wilkes County. He was a brilliant student and interested in all public affairs particularly those pertaining to public schools. Susan (Susanna) Eller, aged 85, his mother doubtless, was living with him in 1850, acording to the Federal Census of that year. [The book has extensive biographies on the descendants of this couple.]
g. Delilah Gazia Eller, b. 15 Feb 1808; m. 30 Oct 1829, Richard Saunders. [Children follow in the book.]
h. Mary (called Polly) Eller, b. 1810; m. Alexander Church, a Baptist Minister. [The book has biographies on the descendants of this couple.]"
11. Ancestry.com's "The Kern Family of Rowan County, NC, Nicholas, KY, Indiana, Iowa," p. 26, in talking of the disposal of the estate on 29 Apr 1793 of Martin Riblin:
"Purchasers of items included many well-known names in the Rowan German community such as the "widow" Ribley, Harmon Butner, John Eller (John Kern's son-in-law), George Smith, Peter Ribley, Peter Brown.)
12. Index of miscellaneous deeds from the book "Our Stoker Family Histories 1731-1881," Vol. II, comp. and ed. by Elayne Stoker, 2004, printed by Stevenson's Genealogy Center, Provo, UT. I am not sure of the relationship, if any, of all the parties herein listed and this is for reference only:
"Some Frederick County Maryland Deeds:
E-125 Joseph Grable to Jacob Funk, March 20, 1753
E-509 Joseph Grable to Jacob Funk, August 21, 1754 Agreement
F-244 Joseph Grable to Jacob Funk, May 28, 1757
F-393 Joseph Grable from James ___, February 11, 1758
K-782 Joseph Grable to Jacob Roland, November 19, 1766
K-782 Samuel Grable from Leonard White, November 14, 1766
K-743 Joseph Grable to Jacob Funk - Release
K-803 Martin Garver from Jacob Danner, December 19, 1766
K-1284 Henry Eller to Jacob Flora, June 6, 1767
L-515 John Garver from Jacob Danner, October 1, 1768
N-396 Leonard Kitzmiller from Samuel Stringer, October 10, 1770
N-505 Peter Wampler from Richard Coroxal, December 15, 1770
S-96 George Michael Eller from Edward Gaither
O-3 Henry Eller to David Buzzard, January 14, 1771
L-665 John Grable to Jacob Roland, May 1772
P-128 Henry Eller from Leonard Kitzmiller, June 13, 1772
P-110 Leonard Kitzmiller to Samuel Carver, June 13, 1772
BD1-539 John Garver to Jacob Danner, May 22, 1775- did not find
BD6-34 John Grabill to Jacob Danner, June 20, 1775
WR-2-543 Peter Grable to Michael Christ, May 26, 1779
WR-3-71 John Grabell to Wm. Renner, July 27, 1782
GM2-444 Peter Wampler, 1782
WR-4-98 Peter Grable to Michael Christ, May 26, 1779
WR-6-4 Henry Eller to Philip Fishburn, June 22, 1784
WR-6-84 Henry Eller to Francis B. Sappington, August 19, 1784
WR-3-205 John Grable from John Bowman, Bill of Sale
WR-7-332 John Grable and others to George Kitzburger, June 12, 1787
WR-7-616 John Grable to Paul Clapsdale, December 4, 1787
WR-8-505 John Grable from John Shuk, June 8, 1789 Bill of Sale
WR-9-194 John Grable from Sam Cole, April 30, 1790
WR-9-250 John Grable from Joseph Boyer, June 1, 1790
WR-9-46 Peter Grable from Martin Sheets, July 8, 1790
WR-9-546 Peter Grable from Henry Repp, December 7, 1790
WR-11-279 John Garber and others, September 24, 1791, Agreement
WR-11-210 John Wampler to Lazarus Findburg, November 21, 1792
WR-11-199 Joseph Wampler from Michael Baer, November 19, 1792
WR-11-587 Joseph Eller from Jacob Baer, May 31, 1793
WR 12-41 John Garber, Upton Scott and others, May 9, 1794 Agreement
WR 12-445 John Grable from Balser Riam, June 3, 1794
WR 12-447 John Grable from Balser Riam, June 3, 1794
WR 12-456 John Grable to Christian Ebey, June 6, 1794
WR 12-451 John Grable to Christian Ebey, June 6, 1794
WR 12-535 John Grable from Conrad Cragon, August 14, 1794
WR 12-516 John Grable to Rebecca Reynolds, July 30, 1794
WR 13-153 John Grable to Conrad Hi , March 26, 1795
WR 13-126 Joseph Eller from Frederick Murray, March 24, 1795
WR 13-449 Martin Garber from Richard Cook, August 11, 1795
WR 13-263 Martin Garber from Philip Fishburn, May 6, 1795
WR 15-481 John Grable from Negro Bill, July 5, 1797
WR 15-595 Joseph Eller from John Kerr, September 6, 1797
WR 15-518 Martin Garber from Richard Coal, August 8, 1797
WR 15-519 Joseph Grable from Martin Garber, August 8, 1797
WR 15-395 David Wampler from Joseph Grable, June 8, 1797
WR 17-44 Jacob Grable from Wm. Hardin, May 24, 1798
WR 19-71 David Wampler from Christian Simmons, October 8, 1799
WR 12-245 Peter Wampler from Samuel Chase, March 1794
WR 16-463 John Wampler from Joseph Baker, May 2, 1795
WR 17-302 John Garber from ___ Scott, October 2, 1798
WR 19-247 Joseph Eller from Jacob Young, January 16, 1800
WR 19-250 Joseph Eller to Jacob Pofsbarger, January 17, 1800
WR 19-252 Joseph Eller to Michael Minor Sr., January 17, 1800
WR 19-444 John Wampler to John Iler, April 16, 1800
WR 21-466 John Grable from Christian Leasner, September 17, 1801
WR 21-541 Jacob Garber to Joseph Baker, October 21, 1801
WR 23-227 Martin Carver and others to Samuel Garber, July 29, 1802
WR 23-228 Samuel Garber from Christian Garber and others, July 29, 1802
WR 23-229 Samuel Garber and others to Christian Garber, July 29, 1802
WR 23-231 John Garber from John Wampler, July 29, 1802
WR 23-234 John Wampler to Martin Garber, July 29, 1802
WR 22-548 Moses Grable from Craig Marshall, May 15, 1802
WR 20-41 Martin Garber from Wm. Head, June 21, 1800
WR 20-43 Martin Garber from Peter Kramer, June 28, 1800
WR 22-4 Moses Grable to Michael Freeze, November 3, 1801
WR 25-579 John Garber from Israel Bigler, May 8, 1804
WR 26-71 John Garber from Anna Garber and others, September 5, 1804
WR 27-544 Joseph Grable to Peter Grable, October 10, 1805
WR 39-561 John Grable from Peter Grable, May 22, 1811
WR 42-380 John Grable and others to State of Maryland, May 31, 1813
WR 44-85 John Grable to Louis Mottier, April 5, 1813"
13. FHL book 929.273 D55h "History of Peter and Christina Shutt Dick Family; Frederick Co. Maryland; Wilkes Co. North Carolina; Muhlenberg Co. Kentucky; Sangamon Co. Illinois; Cass Co. Illinois," compiled by Muriel M. Hoffman; Anchor, Illinois; 1970; Chapter II "Ancestry of Peter Dick":
"Elizabeth Dick, daughter of Conrad and Catherine Dick married Peter Eller, son of George Michael Eller, who moved to what is now Ashe County, N. Car. from Frederick County, Md. Their land adjoined that of her father and presumed brother, John. They had at least 8 children:
1. John Eller, b. abt 1767 d. 1823, m. 5 Nov. 1792 Susannah Kerns, who died 10 April 1853 age 87 years.
2. Catherine Eller b. Rowan Co. 6 Mar. 1773 d. aft 1850 m. 1791/2 to Michael Stoker b. Frederick Co. Md. 24 Mar. 1762, d. aft. 1836.
3. Peter Eller b. 1777/8 d. Wilkes Co. 1851; m. Mary Pennington, prob. dau of William whose estate he helped to administer on 2 July, 1812 with a William Jr.
4. Elizabeth Eller probably m. William Pennington
5. Jacob Eller b.1784/88 d. 3 Nov. 1855 (census b.1784) m. abt. 1805 to Katherine White b.1789 d. Jan. 3, 1854
6. Mary Eller b. 1784/88 d. 1872 age 84; m. George Koons (Koontz) b. 1785/6 d. 26 Mar. 1848 age 63 years.
7. Henry Eller b.1786/88 d. Ashe Co. abt 1876 m. 1814 Elizabeth Johnson.
8. George Eller b. aft 1790 d. before 1841."
MARRIAGE:
1. Ancestry.com's "North Carolina Marriage Collection, 1741-2004" for Rowan Co. shows John Eller and Suzana Kerns, md. 5 Nov 1792, per reel 20, p. 2949.
2. Ancestry.com's "The Kern Family of Rowan County, NC, Nicholas, KY, Indiana, Iowa," p. 13: "Records show a Gabriel Kern as bondsman at the marriage of Susanna Kern (daughter of John Kern) to John Eller, Nov. 5, 1792."
BURIAL:
1. From online "Eller Chronicles," website http://freepages.family.rootsweb.com/~adelr/may92/may92p2.htm: "Wilkes County Cemetery Records, Compiled by George F. McNeil and Joyce McNeil, Route 3, Box 27, Wilkesboro, NC 28697. For the past three years, and I have indulged our strange hobby of locating old cemeteries in Wilkes County (NC) and recording information inscribed on the tombstones. So far, we have found 576 cemeteries in Wilkes County, and have data from more than 36,000 tombstones in our automated database. This includes the cemeteries at all the churches in the county, and many family cemeteries, some of which have been abandoned for many years. We have not recorded information from tombstones in Mountlawn Memorial Park, the large commercial cemetery in North Wilkesboro. It was started in the 1930's, so no real old information would be there. Many Eller entries but only these two are in my database:
Cleveland-Yates Family Cemetery in Stanton Township: John Eller, b. ca 1765/66, d.1823; Parents: Peter Eller and Elizabeth Dick; wife: Susannah Kern md. 5 Nov 1792. (Sources: public records and word of mouth.)
New Hope Baptist Church, Stanton Township: Susannah Eller, row 22, lot 9.0, tombstone: d. 10 Apr 1853 age 87 years, husband: John Eller.
2. Per James Hook as quoted above: "The first record of John Eller found by this writer was his marriage license, issued in Rowan County, NC, 5 Nov 1792. The fact that it was issued in Rowan Co. indicates that his fiancé, Susanna Kerns, was then a resident of that county. According to her gravestone in the New Hope Baptist Church burial ground located about six miles north and west of North Wilkesboro, NC near Rendezvous Mountain, she died 10 April 1853, aged 87 years. This would make her birth year 1765 or 1766. Her husband John Eller was buried in the Robert Cleveland burial ground about a mile beyond on the road to Parsonsville. There is no marker at his grave. After the death of his wife plans were laid by his family to place his remains beside hers in the New Hope cemetery but old residents in the vicinity declare that this was never done."
3. FHL Book 929.273EL54h "George Michael Eller and Descendants of His in America," compiled by James W. Hook, 1957, also on FHL film 896571, item 2, pp. 17-31, in speaking about Peter Eller Sr.'s [b. abt. 1746, d. 1799] estate settlement, the following quotes refer to family members involved with the settlement. Note that sons-in-law William Pennington (wife Barbara or Elizabeth Eller?) and George Koons (Mary's husband) do not show up at the estate sale of 1799 but do show up from 1809 to 1817 when the inherited land of Peter Eller is sold. Of the younger sons, Henry and Jacob appear in the later land heirship land deeds, but they would have been only minors at the estate sale of 1799. George, the youngest son, never shows up which may be indicative of an early death. The older sons- John and Peter - and the eldest daughter - Catherine Eller Stoker thru her husband Michael - show up in both 1799 and the later land deeds. Elizabeth Eller Jr., the unmarried dau. shows up only in the 1799 purchaser list buying household items as if she were preparing for an imminent marriage (see her notes for more detail on her purchases). The open-ended question of who married Elizabeth and who married Barbara is not resolved by these documents except the assurance that William Pennington was definitely a husband of one of them. There is no Bumgardner listed in the later heirship deeds but there are two listed early in the estate purchasers - Michael and Leonard - but if Elizabeth really married a Bumgardner and had a son Simeon in 1807, why is there no listing of a Bumgardner on the heirship deeds. The various quotes are as follows:
"Peter Eller died before 29 July 1799 as evidenced by an entry in an old court record book found by this writer in the courthouse at Wilkesboro, Wilkes Co., NC in October 1954. It reads as follows: 'Betsey Eller and John Eller having made application for Administration on the estate of Peter Eller gave Bowers and John Koons for security who were bound in the sum of 800 pounds and qualified as the law directs.'
Betsey Eller doubtless was Peter's widow and John his eldest son. The time was 1799 when Ashe County was being set off from Wilkes and the year just preceding the one in which the first federal census of Ashe Co. was taken...
Three deeds in the courthouse at Jefferson, Ashe Co., NC record settlement actions on the property of Peter Eller deceased. In brief they are:
1. Deed Book M, p. 163, dated 7 July 1809 shows Peter Eller, Jacob Eller, George Koontz and William Pennington of the county of Ashe in the state of NC, heirs of Peter Eller, deceased, selling to Leonard Fantz 200 acres of land in Ashe Co. the same apparently being the tract Andrew Baker had deeded to Peter Eller 3 Aug 1789. The deed was signed by all the said heirs except William Pennington. Why Pennington did not sign is not clear.
2. Deed Book F, p. 414, dated 17 Sep 1816, shows John Eller, Peter Eller, Jacob Eller, Henry Eller, Michael Stocker (Stoker), George Koontz and William Pennington all of the County of Ashe in the State of NC, heirs of Peter Eller deceased, selling Luke White Sr. 122 acres of land located on the south fork of New River at the mouth of Rones Creek etc. This deed was signed by all the said heirs named as party of the first part in the deed except George Koontz. Why George Koontz did not sign is not clear.
3. Deed Book F, p. 83, dated 11 Feb 1817 shows John Eller, J.A. (Jacob) Eller, Henry Eller, Michael Stocker (Stoker), George Koontz and William Pennington all of the county of Ashe in the state of N.C., heirs of Peter Eller, deceased, selling to Frederick Black, 25 acres of land on the south fork of New River the land being that warranted to Peter Eller, 3 May 1793 and granted to him 27 Dec 1797. All of these heirs signed the deed.
This writer believes that other heirship deeds exist probably of earlier dates and, if found, would show a Bumgardner heir. The above three deeds distributed only 347 acres of Peter Eller's estate when it appears that it consisted at his death of at least 470 acres. The Bumgardner connection is suggested in an ancient family Bible in which the birth dates of seven children of John Eller, eldest son of Peter and Elizabeth (Dick) Eller was recorded. Another birth entry in this old Bible is that of Simeon Bumgardner, born 8 Jan 1807. This child probably was a son of a daughter of Peter and Elizabeth (Dick) Eller who had marred a Bumgardner, probably James Bumgardner.
The old Bible was printed in the German language at Halle, Germany in 1770 and is now in the possession of Mr. Wade E. Eller of Warrensville, Ashe Co., NC. It may be the Bible which George Michael Eller willed to his son Jacob because on page 17 is written 'Jacob Eller his Bible.' On page 15 of the vorrede or preface is also written 'The Holy Bible Peter Eller.' The only information of genealogical value in the Bible are the dates of birth of all but the youngest child, Mary, of John and Susannah (Kerns) Eller… and of Simeon Bumgarner above mentioned.
The personal estate of Peter Eller was sold and an accounting reported to the Nov. 1799 court of Wilkes Co., NC by John Eller, Adr. The property, 111 individual sales, consisted of household utensils and furniture, farm yard tools and accessories, including one tomahawk, ten sheep, fifteen head of cattle, among which were a yoke of yearlings and one yearling bull, hogs, geese, bee hives, etc. The widow took a good deal of the furniture and household accessories including interestingly enough a trumpet which indicates that the early Ellers possessed musical interest. Other items taken by her were one lot of books, a chest, five head of hogs, four cows, one mare colt, two sheep, oven, hammer and anvil, and a pair of saddle bags. Other purchasers were John Eller, Peter Eller, Elizabeth Eller Jr., Michael Stucker (Stoker), Michael Bumgardner, Leonard Bumgardner, John Dick, Leonard Pfouts, Jacob Huntsinger, Daniel Dickson, James Dickson, James Cash, William Cash, Henry Michael Sr., Henry Michael Jr., Daniel Michael, Thomas Baker, Alexander Smith who purchased the tomahawk and some of the farm animals and other items, David Smith, Frederick Younce, Christian Shear, Abraham Shear, Coonrod Coldiron, David Ingram, Balsar Raime, Conrat Grub, William Colward, George Miller, John Calloway, Allen Nowlin, John Holman and John Tirey. The amount of the sale, including the items taken by the widow totaled 300 pounds, 18 shillings, 7 pence. (Will Book 1, pp. 540-41, Wilkes Co., NC.)"
|
Chris & Julie Petersen's Genealogy
Abt 1769 - 1823 (~ 54 years)