Amos Aaron Cornelius 1786-1852

3rd Great Grandfather - Paternal Side

As you can imagine, this is another Cornelius Character - surprise! I contemplated the similarities between my grandfather, Fess, since we all knew what a character he was and his great grandfather Aaron whom he never met. It is remarkable. I would say without a doubt that we have inherited some strong genes.

Amos "Aaron" was the 5th child of William and Lettice Cargil Cornelius. He was born on August 12, 1786 in Greenville, South Carolina where he spent his formative years. Grandmother Anne lived not far away so it assured that the 10 children had her guidance at the very least.

Cornelius Bible Letter (Source 1)

The family moved from South Carolina to Tennessee. While living there Aaron met a young woman, Eleanor (Ellender) Fortner (Faulkner) and they married in Jefferson,Tennessee on December 17, 1808.

Tennessee State Marriages 1780-2002

Aaron and Ellender lived in Tennessee until between 1818 and 1819 when they followed the family to just outside of present day Oneonta, Alabama. According to land records, Aaron sold his land in 1816 which was in Franklin County. Together they had the following children:

1. Abner Cornelius (1809-1864); married Rachel Reneau
2. Miriam Ellender Cornelius (1810-1858); married Bradcus Gallion
3. Elizabeth Mahalla Cornelius (1812-1852); married Daniel J. Bynum
4. Devastus Cornelius (1813- 1866); married Caroline Tillman
5. William Cornelius (1815-1876); married Hannah Allred
6. John W. Cornelius (1818-1879;) married Elizabeth "Eliza" Blackwood
7. Zion Cornelius (1819-1853); married Mary Elizabeth "Betty" Jones
8. Jefferson Harvey Cornelius (1820-1882); married Rosamond Williams
9. Tabitha Cornelius (1822-1887); married William Blackwood
10. Bradford Cornelius (1825-1892); married Cerena Williams
11. Cargill Cornelius (1825-1885); married Nancy Blackwood
12. Nancy Cornelius (1833-1905); married John Fennester Tidwell

In 1830 U.S. Census, there are a total of 11 free white people and 3 slaves listed. This would account for the children except for Abner, Miriam, & Nancy. Aaron and family lived next to William Cornelius, Sr. By 1840, seven people resided in the household. (See Sources 3 & 4)

Aaron was one of the executors of his father's will in 1842 of which states, "Also I have given my Son Arron Cornelius one Negro Girl named Leah and hur two children one Girl named Harlot and one Boy named Lewis this to be his full portion of my estate." I do not know what became of these people because in Aaron's probate records he has 3 others listed as Siah, George, and Isiah who were sold outside of the family.(*See note below.)

In the 1850 Census there were only three people listed - Aaron, Ellender, & Nancy and it shows that Aaron is a farmer. He owned 75 acres of land (45 acres unimproved) which had a value of $150 plus $60 of farming implements, 3 horses, 7 milch cows, 2 working oxen, 10 other cattle,7 sheep, and 60 swine all valued at $220 plus 700 bushels of Indian corn.(See Sources 5, 6 & 7)

1850 Farm Schedule

Ellender died after November 1850 and Aaron married Sarah "Sally" Stephens around 1851 to which there was born one son:

1. Jeremiah Aaron Cornelius (1852-1920); married Frances

So the fact that Aaron had 13 children and came from Revolutionary War stock does not make him a character. If in fact this was all that I had to go on, I would say that he was the just most normal run of the mill grandfather of the time. BUT when you take into account what the newspapers (seems to be the bane of my grandfathers existence doesn't it) you will see why I call him a "character" like Papaw Fess!

Now being a farmer, he had to take care of his land and animals so one could not be shocked by the events that occurred when rabies was running throughout the county. One would think that rabid animals would act in a certain way but being the man that he was, Aaron was obliged to take it upon himself to rid the county (at least his homestead) of stray dogs so naturally when a yellow dog came by Aaron grabbed his long gun and properly dispatched the Hell Hound to a death sentence. It appears this was someone's hunting dog so Aaron was slapped with a hefty $50.00  fine. Being of Cornelius mind the only proper thing to do was hire a couple of lawyers and challenge it in court. The owner followed and he hired lawyers for the trial which lasted an entire day. There was much debate and it was finally declared that a good dog was the proper thing to have but no good dog was worth more than livestock. In the end Aaron had to pay a fine of $8.07 and a grand funeral procession was held on Main Street and the dog's valiant reputation was restored (See Source 10). I'll bet that was a sight to see!

Aaron was caught distilling illicit liquor (sound familiar) which was dismissed due to lack of evidence. Hmmm, will the hills of Oneonta just as the rumored Oklahoma hills blow up one day due to the liquor buried there? Wondering minds would like to know.

Aaron was not a Godless man for he attended and was a member the United Baptist Church of Christ at Mount Pisgah along with his children. If a member was absent more than 3 times one would be contacted by the church and if excuses were not satisfactory, then the church would admonish them. Aaron was shown to have tithed $25 dollars to the church between 1836 and 1852. In June of 1838 he and his brother, Jesse, were appointed as delegates to an August church conference. He was excused for absence due to being deceased in 1851.

Church Minutes Book Source 8

Aaron died without a will, his probate papers show his estate to be worth $3,989.46 and listed his heirs and property. He is believed to be buried near his parents in the abandoned William Cornelius Cemetery, Oneonta, AL.

Many, many thanks goes to Charles "Chip" Cornelius for spending hours in the Blount County Courthouse basement looking for documents with me! Also to Linda Cornelius Atkins for being brave enough to battle spiders, snakes, and bulls to get to our roots.

Further information about the Cornelius clan can be found at www.fourfamiliesreunion.com, their Facebook page, Volume Two, Genealogy of the Bynum Family, Compiled and Edited by Mary Lou Boazman Howard, and the Four Families newsletter compiled by Bruce & Linda Jordan.

*Note: The slaves named in this story is for historical context only. I will not hide something that I am uncomfortable with since this blog is about my ancestors and perhaps gives us a tiny glimpse of their lives.

Sources:

1. Cornelius Bible Letter - Alabama Records Vol. 204(? last number is chopped off); Blount Co. - Gunrud 976.172 C Vol. 1
2. Tennessee State Marriages, 1780-2002 by Ancestry.com
3. Year: 1830; Census Place: , Blount, Alabama; Roll: ; Page: .; Ancestry.com
4. Year: 1840; Census Place: Eastern Division, Blount, Alabama; Roll: 3; Page: 91; Image: 858; Family History Library Film: 0002332; Ancestry.com
5. Year: 1850; Census Place: Subdivision 18, Blount, Alabama; Roll: M432_2; Page: 101B; Image: . Ancestry.com
6. Alabama State Census, 1820-1866; Ancestry.com
7. Selected U.S.Federal Census Non-Population Schedules 1850-1880; Ancestry.com
8. "Records of the United Baptist Church of Christ at Mt. Pisgah, Blount County, Alabama"; Transcribed by Rita Allgood Tubbs, Compiled by Dr. H.M. "Mac" Stiles
9. Alabama Probate Records, pages 208-230, Vol. (Sorry, I didn't copy the volume number down but if you are interested in a copy contact me)
10. Sketches of Blount County by Mary Gordon Duffee; "People and Things from The Blount County News-Dispatch 1890-1897"; Compiled & Edited by Robin Sterling  He has many books on the area so if you are searching for information on ancestors Google his name and it will populate his works.

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Benjamin Franklin Hutsenpiller 1839-1898

2nd Great Grandfather - Maternal Side

You can call me "Josephine Friday" because I am just stating the facts ma'am. I am taking one liberty here and that is to state that Benjamin's middle name is Franklin, this is not a fact as I have only seen Benjamin F. in records. Other than that, I have records to back up all other matters stated.

Any way you look at it Benjamin was a character. I am sure his parents, Hillias & Sophronia Lindsey Hutsenpiller, had hopes for their 2nd child and oldest son of 9 children. He was born in Highland County, Ohio around 1839 since the 1840 U.S. Census only states that he is under 5 years old. On the 1850 U.S. Census it shows been as being 10 or 11 and that he attended school that year. I can not find him on the 1860 census but he enlisted in the Union Army, 22nd Infantry Ohio Regiment, Company B as a private on September 2, 1861 (age 23) and served from November 1, 1861 (age 21) through November 18, 1864 when he mustered out. (See Sources 1 & 2) How he had grown 2 years younger in 2 months is incredible. His regiment was in some of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War and I have no doubt this changed his life forever.

After the war, Benjamin married Hester A. Evans on May 7, 1865. She was the daughter of John G. & Rebecca Storer Evans.

Together they had three children:

1. John William "Willie" (1867-1935); married Rose Etta Turner
2. Charles E. (1870-1920); married Catherine Sherman
3. Lulu  (1876-1891) died before marriage

Benjamin was by trade a blacksmith. In the 1870 U.S. Census he is shown to have $400 in real estate and $150 in personal estate. I would have to say that he was doing alright by the standards of the day. He owned $250 in iron and 250 pounds of coal valued at $25, He did not own a machine as he performed his work by hand. (See Source 3)

All was not well between Benjamin and Hester. I do not know the circumstances surrounding what lead to this event but by February, 1879 Hester was filing for divorce. She accuses him of running off and living with Ellen McKinney, as per The Portsmouth Times.

Apparently she was granted the divorce since she and Ben went on to marry others. Ben did not marry Ellen, but did wed another lady of whom I believe was named Mary Ann Carr. I really can't say much more about Bad Ben because records from after 1870 are scarce or non-indexed. I show that he died February 27, 1898 and is buried in Oliver, Adams County, Ohio. But here my facts have turned into faith from other records.

UPDATE: Cousin Cora has come through again! Benjamin and his family were living in Scioto County, Ohio during the 1860 Census. It appears that the census taker really botched the Hutsenpiller name. Cora and Betty spent an entire day looking through all of the Scioto Co. Census records at the Clayton Library and this was how he was found. Many Thanks!


Sources:

1. "U.S. Civil War Soldiers, 1861-1865" by The National Parks Service; Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007.Original data - National Park Service, Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, online <http://www.itd.nps.gov/cwss/>, acquired 2007.Original data: National Park Service, Civil War

2.  http://www.civilwarindex.com/armyoh/rosters/22nd_oh_infantry_3years_roster.pdf

3.  Selected U.S. Federal Census Non-Population Schedules, 1850-1880; Census Year: 1870; Census Place: Nile, Scioto, Ohio; Ancestry.com

Moses Cornelius 1732 - circa 1770

5th Great Grandfather - Paternal Side

After a frustrating month of digging into any information that I could find, buying more books with little information in them it gives me great pleasure to introduce "Characters Month". Not that they were necessarily bad (well, maybe one or two were misguided) but these gentlemen stick out in my mind for one reason or another.

As of the date of this post I have no knowledge of where Moses Cornelius began his life or who his parents were. There has been speculation all over the place but nothing can be proven. The descendants of this family have DNA roots from Great Britain, West Europe, Scandinavia, & Ireland.

Moses married Anne Dodson Fowler before August 1767 but the exact date is unknown. They had two sons:

1. William Cornelius (1754-1842) married Lettice Cargile 
2. Jeptha Cornelius (1758-1818) married Margaret "Peggy" Everett

The first appearance of whom I believe was our Moses is on two jury lists in Halifax, Virginia during the September 1760 court. The first case was John Owen vs Thomas Terry and the second case was Cornelius Cargill, Sr. vs Thomas Cobb and wife. This would have meant that Moses was a productive member of society and would have been paid with 30 pounds of tobacco for each appearance (See Source 1).

In the 1767 List of Tithables for Pittsylvania County, VA taken by John Dix, Moses Cornelius is listed as having paid one (1) tithe. He would not have been taxed for his wife or sons but could have been taxed for any livestock.

Note: This William Cornelius is not Moses' son but could be an uncle or father of Moses.

Later in the same year, December 17, 1767, Virginia Gazette Newspaper, Pg. 3 “Committed to the Publick Gaol (note: public jail), on Friday last, Moses Cornelius, from Charlotte for passing bad money”(See Source 2). This seems to have been the start of a trend in his life. Just a few months later on April 21, 1768, Virginia Gazette Newspaper, Pg. 2 “Moses Cornelius, from Charlotte, for felony, lies over until June court”. I presume this was from the previous mentioned article: June 16, 1768, Virginia Gazette Newspaper, Pg. 2, “Moses Cornelius, from Charlotte, for felony, recommitted.” There were two court cases filed against him in Pittsylvania County days after: Pittsylvania County Court Book 1, June 24, 1768 Richard Conner vs Moses Cornelius and on June 25, 1768 William Wynne vs Moses Cornelius.  Again, Moses seems to be in ill favor of someone on July 1768 in Pittsylvania County, there was another legal action of William Cornelius** vs Moses Cornelius.

It appears that Moses was in some sort of kerfuffle with Samuel Johnston in January, 1771:

See Source 3

Transcription of Chancery Court Causes: Moses Cornelius vs Samuel Johnson Charlotte County, Virginia 1771:

To the worshipful Court of Charlotte County Sitting in Chaneory

                                                                Humbly Complaining

Herewith unto your worships your orators, Moses Cornelious that some time past in this worshipful there was a certain suit depending and undetermined between on Saml Johnson Plf and Nathl Williams Defendant, in and concerning the taken up of your Orator, which of them was entitled to the reward of 20 pounds that was offered for the taken up of your Orator in the Virginia Gazette by the Honourable Francis Fauquier, Esq. Luitenant Governour of Virginia and while the said suit was depending for the reward aforesaid, the said Samuel Johnson came to your Orator and told him, Moses you know that I am entitled to the reward for the taken of you up and I intend to call on you as a witness and if you’l tell the truth so that I git the suit I will give you five pounds of the said money. I am to have but ten pounds of the money if I get it. If I do I’ll give you half of it which your orator agreed to John V. Henry. Now so it is may it please your worships that when the said suit was tried the said Johnson called on your orator as a witness in said suit, which your orator knowing the bargain of attended, and gave in his evidence as near the truth as he could remember, and after your orator had gave in his evidence the jury returned and found for the said Samuel Johnson, the Twenty Pounds of and as your orator has been informed the said Saml has recd the money of the said Nathaniel Williams.

But now so it is the said the Samuel hath not made payment to your orator of the five pounds according to his bargain of only let your orator have a horse. Some time ago your orator thought, and also as the said Samuel agrees should go in lieu of the five pounds after but to your orators great surprise has brought suit in this Worshipful Court for the horse as he gave to your orator for the money of which suit is now defending, and utterly denies payment to your orator which is no ways convenient to your orator.  In consideration where of and for as much as there is no relief in cases of this sort but in around of equity. To the end therefore that the said Samuel may on his corporal oath  true testament and parpet angr make to all and singular the premises aforesaid whether he did not bring suit of the aforesaid Nathaniel Williams for the reward aforesaid, whether he did not come to your orator and agree to give him five pounds if he would be a witness for him and tell the truth so that he could gain the suit but by of award the said Nath Williams and I get the money from him the said Nathaniel and when your orator and he did not bargain, and your Orator agreed to take the five pounds and stay be a witness, and also sit forth when there your Orator was not an evidence for him and that’s the truth as near as he could, and also set forth when then  he did not tell your orator have the horse aforementioned in lieu of the five pounds, and whether he has not since brought suit against your orator for the horse aforesaid in this Worshipful Court, also sit forth if his has no recovered the money of the said Nathaniel Williams and received the same and also set forth if he was to have any more than ten pounds of the money when got and if he did not promise your orator half when recovered, and by advice of this Worshipful Court the said Samuel Johnson may be compelled to pay to your orator the aforesaid five pounds as he agreed to pay or such other decree as to your Worships shall sum just and agreeable to Equity.

May it please your worships to grant you orator his majesties writ of Sus. Pevetes to the said Samuel Johnson commanding him to appear and answer.

Signed Williams (Mead or Hood – it is very blurred)

August 13, 1773, Virginia Gazette Newspaper, Pg. 2, “Williamsburg – The following prisoners have been brought to the publick jail: Moses Cornelius, and Richard Williamson, for theft.” Finally things begin to turn around for Moses: On October 22, 1773 they are acquitted from grand larceny charges. Does this mean he was acquitted because he had died earlier? Unless and until there can be found a record of his death we may never know for sure.

The last piece of information that I have is in the September Court of 1773 Pittsylvania County Virginia (Deed Book 2, Page 246) William and Jeptha (both under 21) are bound out, meaning their father had died or could no longer provide for them. (See Source 4) It is speculation that Moses had been branded due to his many run-ins with the law.

Further reading on the convicted criminals of the day can be found at:  https://www.history.org/Foundation/journal/Summer11/prison.cfm

Again I would like to thank Francis Cornelius Douglas & Robert Johnston, Jr. for all of their hard work and research. If not for them I would have not known where to look for any of this information.


**It is only speculation on my part that this is one of his relatives, but since his first son's name is William I would suspect it to be a close one.

Sources:

1.  http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~jcat2/18centvalaw.html

2. http://research.history.org/DigitalLibrary/va-gazettes

3, Ancestry.com

4. Virginia State Archives

5. FamilySearch.org

Elizabeth Brumbach circa 1715 - circa

6th Great Grandmother - Maternal Side

Elizabeth Brumbach was the eldest of four daughters born to Melchoir & Elizabeth Fishbach Brumbach (one of many spellings) who immigrated from the Nassau-Seigen area of Germany (See Sources 1, 2, & 3). She was the first in her family to be born in the Germanna, Virginia* settlement circa 1715. Germanna  was a fort on Alexander Spotswood's land named after Germany and the Queen of England. The immigrants and their families had daily prayers in the stock house and services twice on Sundays in German.

The settlers later move to a place which became known as Germantown, Virginia where Elizabeth continued with her schooling, which was most likely in German but she was able to write her name in English. Elizabeth and two of her sisters gave their portion of the original parcel owned by Melchoir to their youngest sister, Agnes, after they left the Germantown area.(See Source 4)

Elizabeth married Stehpen Hotzenbulher (one of many spellings) between 1732 and 1736 in Germantown. Together they had 12 children:

1. Mary; b about 1737 married Valentine Switzer
2.  George; b about 1738 married Catherine McKeever
3.  John, Sr.; b. about 1739 married Barbara Schurf
4.  JACOB; b. about 1740 married Elizabeth Huber (5th great grandparents)
5.  Agnes; b. about 1741 married Rudolph Bomgardner
6. Catherine; b. about 1742 married Kerns
7.  Elizabeth; b. about 1743 married Jacob Hoover (Huver most likely brother to Elizabeth who married Jacob Hostenpiller)
8.  Peter; b. about 1745 (was not listed in will)
9.  Anna Maria; b. about 1747 married William Stroop, II (Stroup)
10. Sarah; b. about 1749 married Hopliel Coffman
11.  Susannah; b. about 1750 married Siegler
12.  Stephen, Jr.; b. about 1752 (was not listed in will)

During her lifetime she was baptized by the Rev. Johann Casper Stover, Jr.(See Source 1). 

There are no records of her death and burial that have surfaced. It is known that her husband outlived her so she likely is buried in the Shenandoah Valley, Virginia area around the year 1767.

*For more information about Germanna see www.Germanna.org where descendants can join the Society.

Sources:

1. https://catalog.hathitrust.org - Brumback-Hotsinpiller genealogy; some of the descendants of Melchior Brumback of the 1714 Germanna Colony in Virginia through his daughter Elizabeth who married Stephen Hotsinpiller, and allied families of Afflick, Anderson, Bunger, Burns, Campbell, Coffman, Cornwell, Denny, Dotson, Graham, Jennings, Kessler, Kincaid, Knapp, Knox, La Rue, Lemley, Lewis, Livesay, McCutcheon, Neal, Nichols, Pollock, Powell, Ransberger, Rector, Rudolph, Sharp, Surbaugh, Tuckwiller, Watts, Williams, and others, by Elizabeth Chapman Denny Vann and Margaret Collins Denny Dixon.1961; Englewood, New Jersey.

2.  www.Germanna.org
3. Ancestry and Descendants of the Nassau-Siegen Immigrants to Virginia 1714-1750 by B.C. Holtsclaw;1964; The Memorial Foundation of Germanna Colonies in Virginia, Incorporated.
4, Prince William County Virginia, Deed Book I, page 156

Nancy Coker 1766-1823

4th Great Grandmother - Paternal Side

Nancy Coker was born January of 1766 in Brunswick, Virginia to Joseph Coker and Mary Nellie Aldridge. It is unclear as to how many siblings she had due to only 4 brothers being named in her father's will. The family moved from Virginia to South Carolina around 1780 when her father was granted land for his service in the Revolutionary War.

While living in South Carolina, Nancy met a Revolutionary War Veteran, Frederick Thompson. They were married in Surry County, NC on 24 December 1784.

The couple lived in North Carolina for a few years until land opened up in Georgia around 1787. Together they had 9 children:
1. James Fredrick (1785-1856); married Frances Ellen Austin
2. David (1787-1857); married Dancella Camp
3. Nancy (1788-1823); married Robert Allison
4. John (1790-1850); married Mary Lake
5. Lucy (1792-1883); married Paul Patrick
6. Alexander (1794-1824); married Nancy Luck
7. Charolette (1796-1876); married Eldon Mitchell
8. Elizabeth (1798-1852); married William Kilgore
9. Martha Faithy (1802-1835); married Hiram Casey

Nancy died on June 5, 1823 and was laid to rest in the family plot on the farm but her remains were later removed to be by her husband's side in the Bethlehem United Methodist Church Cemetery in Bethlehem, Georgia.

Sources:
1. Ancestry.com
2. Find-a-grave.com
3. Georgia Settlers, Vol. 9, No. 3, August 2008; East Georgia Genealogical Society
4. Marriage Record was given to me by Nancy Panagoulias

Sarah Dense 1778 - 1872

3rd Great Grandmother - Maternal Side

Sarah Dense from some accounts had a colorful history, I for one, have found nothing to corroborate the fantastic tale you are about to read but it was out on the internet so I will let you decide on your own.

"Rumors are that Sarah was born in The Netherlands and came to America as a young girl. She was captured by Indians and lived with them until her escape then she married John Van Wie." Wow! If only I could find documentation!

Sarah Dense (or Duense) was born on September 24, between 1778 and 1782 depending on the source. On the 1850 Census it states her birth place as New Jersey; on the 1860 Census she is shown as having been born in New York; on the 1870 Census it states that she was born in Connecticut. It is my opinion that she was born in New York state but I have no documentation to prove it. New York Genealogical Records state her birth date as 1782 and born in New York City.

Regardless of when or where she was born, Sarah was married to John Van Wie around 1797 supposedly in Orange County, New York.  They lived around Seneca, New York and by all accounts lead a very normal life. Sarah and John had 9 children during their time together.

1. Lesbe Van Wey (1798-1871) married Daniel Easton
2. Mary Dense Van Wey (1799-1883) married Joseph Gallup
3. Charles Van Wey (1801-?) may be buried in Boise, Idaho
4. John M. Van Wey (1802-?)
5. Richard Stuphin Van Wey (1805-1880) married Catherine Lord
6. Eliza C. Van Wey (1808-1889) married Morgan Lewis Walldorf
7. Grace G. Van Wey (1810-1813)*
8. Infant Van Wey (1812-1812)*
9. Sarah Van Vey (1813-1813)*

After John's death in 1814*, Sarah married Thomas Horton in 1815. She must have thought highly of her 1st husband because her son with Thomas was named 10. John Van Wey Horton who was born in 1816 and later married Margaret Jordan. After Thomas died in 1830 Sarah went to live with her daughters until her death in 1872. Her obituary in "The Havana Journal, NY" dated June 29, 1872 states: At the funeral services of Mrs Sarah Horton, held at the M. E. Church in Lodi, on the 2nd of June, there were represented in the line of mourners five successive generations, the deceased, ninety-four years of age, having a daughter, a granddaughter, a great-granddaughter, and a great-great-granddaughter, all of whom followed her remains to the grave. Very few can say that they have attended their great-great-grandmother's funeral.

Sarah is buried in Ovid Union Cemetery, Seneca County, New York.

*There were several epidemics that were recorded along the Canadian border during the War of 1812. Among them were measles and typhoid fever. It is only speculation on my part that this might have been a contributing factor to these deaths.

Anne Dodson 1729-1807

5th Great Grandmother Paternal Side

For February the theme is "Ladies Month". I hope not to disappoint you but the articles will be short due to the extremely limited documents that I can find on most. Anne is a little different since her father died young and she married a "Character" which will be explored next month.

Anne was born on November 12, 1732* in North Farnham Parish (Richmond County), VA. to Fortunatus (**See previous blog post) and Alice "Ellis" Goad Dodson (See Source 1). She was the 3rd or 4th of 6 children. After her father died Anne's uncle William Dodson became her guardian until her mother married a widower John Fowler. Anne was bound to John in 1747 and she was also known as Anne Fowler. (See Source 2)

Anne married Moses Cornelius before 1767 in Northern Virginia. The family relocated to the Pittsylvania County, VA around this same time. There were at least two sons born to this union:
1. William 1754-1842; married Lettice Cargil (Revoluntionary War Soldier)
2. Jeptha 1758-1818; married Margaret "Peggy" Everett

Anne was granted a 202 acres tract of land in Pittsylvania Co., VA on Frying Pan Creek for the amount of 20 shillings sterling. (See Source 3) The grant was signed in 1780 but the original was dated 1753. She sold the land for 100 Pounds to Daniel Kryder in 1790.

After Moses died Anne married George Phillips, son of Tobias Phillips and Hannah Goad, who was her first cousin. George had been married to Anne’s sister, Hannah Dodson, who died around 1760. George’s mother, Hannah Goad Phillips, later married Anne’s uncle William Dodson who had been her guardian. Anne was left personal property in her uncle’s will. The estate was divided in 1786 after Aunt Hannah’s death. They lived in Pittsylvania Co., VA and around the Pigg River area. Confused yet? Research so far has not turned up any children between Anne and George but an article by Benton Beverly Cornelius stated that his grandfather William was one of 7 sons. This could have meant his step brothers or half brothers were his first cousins if you think about it. It all makes my brain hurt!

By 1790, (See Source 4) Anne is shown as a widow and is living in South Carolina not very far from her sons. This may have been why they sold the land on Frying Pan Creek. It is speculated that she remained there until her death. A transcribed bible record puts her death as 4 October 1807 but a burial record is not included and no will has been found as of this writing.

This was the life of Anne Dodson Fowler Cornelius Phillips. She lived a full life in her 75+ years!

Thank you is not enough words to describe how grateful to Francis Cornelius Douglas and Robert Johnston, Jr. for their knowledge and research! If not for them I would have been stuck on Anne Cornelius and this would have been shorter than it is.

*The date of Anne's birth is listed as different years in two records that I have. The date of 1732 is from the "Dodson Book" or Source 1. The transcribed Bible record shown above lists her birth 1729. From a family point of view I would believe the Bible record, however from a genealogist point of view I would have to go with the Dodson Book and let me give a short explanation as to why: 1.) There is no bookplate stating when the Bible was published so we don't know if it was filled in before or some years after her death. 2.) Since it is a transcribed copy the handwriting can not be compared to other entries to see if the entries were made "at one sitting" or if they were filled in by different people as the events occurred. This does not make the transcribed copy invalid by any means I am only following standard guidelines as a very amateur genealogist. Please keep comments coming as they make me re-evaluate my records and I really, really want this to be as correct as possible.

**Fortunatus & Alice Dodson were married on September 9, 1726. Anne was their 3rd or 4th child so it is unlikely she was born 2 months after they were married.

Sources:

1. The Dodson (Dotson) Family of North Farnham Parish, Richmond County, Virginia; A History and Genealogy of Their Descendants, Volume One by Mrs. Sherman Williams and The Rev. Silas Emmett, Lucas, Jr.:  Southern Historical Press, 1988
2. Headley, Robert K. Married Well and Often: Marriages of the Northern Neck of Virginia, 1649–1800. Baltimore, MD, USA: Genealogical Publishing Co., 2003
3. Pittsylvania County Virginia (Deed Book 2, Page 246)
4. Year: 1800; Census Place: Greenville, South Carolina; Series: M32; Roll: 47; Page: 252; Image: 489;