| Notes |
- RESEARCH_NOTES:
1. According to James Hook as quoted below, the husband surname of "Pertune" comes from an entry for the dead, Barbara Pertune, done by nephew Michael Stoker in the Nauvoo Temple which may have been a misheard "Pennington" by the temple scribe. Hook also mentions that there is no guarantee that Peter Eller's daughter's name was even Barbara except by assumption that Stoker's baptismal work was for an aunt on his mother's name. Many family genealogists show William Pennington as Elizabeth Eller's husband, but that also is unproven.
2. 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. 30-31, in listing the children of Peter Eller and Elizabeth Dick: "A daughter Eller, probably Barbara, who married William Pennington, son, doubtless, of William Pennington Sr., whose daughter, Mary Pennington, married Peter Eller Jr. The sale of Peter Eller [Sr.'s] personal property as reported to the Nov. Court of Wilkes Co. in 1799 shows no sales to a Pennington which implies that William Pennington was not then a son-in-law of Peter Eller. The 1800 census of Ashe Co. shows William Pennington aged between 16 and 26 living with a wife of same age and no children. The 1810 census of Ashe Co. shows W. Pennington (obviously not the same unless his age was incorrectly stated) aged 18-26 living with a female, his mother probably, aged over 45 and with two females and two males each under 10. He is shown in no later census of Ashe or Wilkes Counties. If the two censuses referred to the same person then the implication would be that the wife of William Pennington died prior to 1810 and that he signed some of Peter Eller heirship deeds for and in behalf of his minor children who were grandchildren of Peter Eller. Family memory says that the family removed to Georgia but if so it must have been after 11 Feb 1817 when William Pennington of Ashe Co., NC last signed as an heir of Peter Eller. (Book F, p. 83, Ashe Co., NC Deeds.)"
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.)"
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. 29-30: "Elizabeth Eller. That there was a daughter Elizabeth is proved by the record of sale of the personal estate of Peter Eller as reported to the Nov. 1799 court of Wilkes Co. wherein 'Elizabeth Eller Jr.' is named as the purchaser of such items as two beds and furniture, spinning wheel, smoothing iron, two chairs, bell, bridle, wooden water can and two pigins (water dippers). (Will Book I, pp. 540-41, Wilkes Co., NC.) The fact that she was called 'Elizabeth Eller Jr.' indicates that she was not married and the character of her purchases suggest that she was preparing to be. Certain deeds in Ashe Co., NC (Book M, p. 163 and Book F, pp. 83 and 414) prove that one daughter of Peter Eller married William Pennington and the belief has been that it was Elizabeth, and the same Elizabeth Pennington who witnessed the deed referred to under Peter Eller Jr. [Insert from author's notes on her brother Peter Eller Jr.: 'On 2 Jul 1812 Peter Eller and William Pennington 'administrators of the estate of William Pennington deceased' sold land of the estate that was granted to William Pennington on the north side of a fork of New River 15 Dec 1798. The deed was signed by Peter Eller and William Penington and witnessed by Elizabeth Pennington. {Deed Book C, p. 457, Ashe Co., NC.} Elizabeth Pennington, the witness, could have been the wife of William Pennington, the administrator, and a sister of Peter Eller Jr. or she could have been the widow or daughter of the deceased.] The fact, however, that Michael Stoker, son of Peter Eller's daughter Catherine, had himself baptized for his 'deceased aunt, Barbara Pertune', [see notes for Barbara Eller for more detail] casts some doubt on this, the name Pertune possibly having been meant for Pennington. Of course, Barbara Pertune could have been an aunt on his father's side. If, however, it was true that Barbara Eller was the wife of William Pennington then the question arises who did Elizabeth Eller marry? This writer would guess that it was a Bumgardner and that Simeon Bumgardner, b. 8 Jan 1807 and recorded in the German Bible published at Halle, Germany in 1770, and mentioned [see notes below], was their son. Michael and Leonard Bumgardner purchased several items of the Peter Eller estate in 1799. (Will Book 1, pp. 540-41, Wilkes Co., NC.) A James Bumgard (sic) (wife Hannah) was granted land on New River that bordered land of Peter Eller, 22 Aug 1795 and other land near by was granted to Michael Bumgarner (sic) 23 Jul 1794. A James Bunyard (sic) is shown in the 1810 census of Ashe Co. as being between 16-26 years of age with wife of same age and with a son and daughter both under 10. A James Beal Bunyard (sic) died in Ashe Co. in 1817. His will, dated 14 Aug 1817 mentioned wife Hannah and Children, (1) Samuel; (2) Nancy; (3) Betsey and also mentioned 'my boys' but named only Samuel."
5. 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."
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. FHL book 929.273 P684pn: "Graybill/Stoker/Eller/Smith/Koons/Pitt Connections," by Norman E. 'Gene' Pitt, 1996, pp. 119-123: "Barbara Eller, b. 1782; d. bef 1846; md. possibly to ___ Pertune or to William Pennington. The family may have moved to GA." Note: See sister Elizabeth's notes for speculation that William Pennington may have actually been her husband.
MARRIAGE:
1. As of Feb 2019, Family Search has a photo for the tombstone of Elizabeth Pennington with birth and death dates. Even though it does not explicitly say so, this Elizabeth is currently considered to be Elizabeth Eller. More importantly, it seems to eliminate the conjecture that Elizabeth's sister Barbara was the one who married William Pennington.
2. The following LDS ordinances were done in Nauvoo by Michael Stoker acting as proxy for his family as follows per the book "Annotated Record of Baptism for the Dead, 1840-1845, Hancock County, Illinois - [7 volume set] ," by Black, Susan Easton & Black, Harvey Bishchoff, Provo, UT, BYU Press, 2002, pp. 1452-1453, with additional biography by editors:
"Deceased: Absalom Koons. 1841. Absalom (Abraham) Koons, b. abt. 1810 of Ashe Co., NC, son of George Koons and Mary Eller. Michael Stoker was the Cousin of Absalom Koons. Source: Nauvoo Baptismal Records of the Dead, Book A94; Family Search, Ancestral File."
"Deceased: Barbary Pertune. 1841. Maiden name Eller, b. 1782 in North Carolina to Peter B. Eller and Elizabeth Dick, md. to William Pennington Jr. in NC, d. 1810 in Ashe Co., NC. Michael Stoker was the Nephew of Barbary Pertune. Source: Nauvoo Baptismal Records of the Dead, Book A128; Family Search, Ancestral File."
"Deceased: Michael Stoker. 1841. Michael Stoker was the Grandson of Michael Stoker. Source: Nauvoo Baptismal Records of the Dead, Book A156."
BAPTISM: Online Ordinance Index.
ENDOWMENT: Online Ordinance Index FHL film 446233 ref. 33386.
SEALING TO PARENTS: Online Ordinance Index.
SEALING TO SPOUSE:
Pennington: Online Ordinance Index.
Pertune: Online Ordinance Index.
|
Chris & Julie Petersen's Genealogy
Abt 1782 - Bef 1841 (~ 58 years)