ATWELL, Benjamin, of Hart Co KY

Relationship is confirmed with a 23andMe test match between Kathy Alvis Patterson and James Atwell, third cousins. Predicted relationship from 23andMe: “Third Cousin based on 0.38% DNA shared across 4 segments.” Note that James Atwell is also descended from Richard Atwell, so both third cousins descend from Benjamin and Susan and are also fifth cousins in another line.

Benjamin Atwell was born 24 Nov 1807 in Caswell Co NC, a son of John Atwell Jr and his first wife, who was probably Anne Lewis.[1] He died 3 Feb 1895 in Horse Cave, Hart Co KY.

On 16 Oct 1833 in Green Co KY, Benjamin married Susan Erwin.[2]

Susan Erwin was born 24 Jan 1815 in Green Co KY, the daughter of William Erwin Jr and his first wife, Sarah Forbis.[3] She died 4 Aug 1893 in Horse Cave, Hart Co KY.

Benjamin and Susan joined the Three Springs Baptist Church in Oct 1840. Ben was a tobacco farmer.

In 1840, they were in Barren Co KY, p 117: Benjamin Atwell, 11001/10001; the eldest three children were William Green, Sally Ann and John Thomas. In 1850, they were in Barren Co KY, p 436, 478-489; the same three older children are listed, plus Margaret J, Joel B, James W, Phebe F, and Mary L. In 1860, they were in Metcalfe Co KY, E Fork PO, p 867, with all the 1860 children except William G and Phebe, plus Lucretia, Susan, William Rush[4] and Job. They remained in Metcalfe Co in 1870 and 1880.

Benjamin and Susan had the following children:

A. William Green ATWELL. Born about 1835 in KY. William Green died in KY in 1920/1930. On 13 Nov 1853 when William Green was 18, he married Susan Jane BROWN in KY. They had the following children:

• 1. William F (ca1855-)
  2. Lucinda J (ca1858-)
  3. John J (ca1860-)
  4. Joseph B (ca1863-)
  5. Elza A (ca1866-)
  6. Susan F (ca1868-)

B. Sally Ann ATWELL. Born on 18 Nov 1835 in KY. Sally Ann died on 6 or 27 Jun 1915. On 30 Mar 1862 she married as his second wife Thomas Louis FINNEY in Three Springs KY. Born on 17 Apr 1815. Thomas Louis died on 12 Jun 1886. They had the following children:

1. 1. 1. Louis Marshel (1862-1862)
      2. James B (1864-1951)
      3. Sarah Eliza (1867-1940)
      4. Sallie Parrydine (1868-1869)
      5. David C (1870-1936)
      6. Susin Perley (1873-1952)
      7. Margret E (1875-1905)

 C. Margaret Jane ATWELL. Born on 24 Sep 1841 in KY. Margaret died in Metcalfe Co KY, on 4 Feb 1927. On 31 Dec 1867, she married James Blueford BASTIN, son of Thomas BASTIN & Louanna SHOFNER, in Metcalfe Co KY. Born on 12 Feb 1844 in Metcalfe Co KY. James Blueford died in Metcalfe Co KY, on 10 Apr 1893. Margaret’s 1910 census sais she had nine children, 3 of whom were then living; the only known children were the following children:

1. 1. Emma Lydia (1870-)
   2. Lenora S (1871-)
   3. S F (1876-)
   4. Fannie Bashbee (1879-)
   5. Sally Ann (1881-)

D, Joel B ATWELL. Born on 19 Nov 1843 in KY. Joel served in the Civil War in Co B 21 Reg US and was killed on 10 Dec 1862.

 

E, James Willis ATWELL. Born on 24 Sep 1845 in Metcalfe Co KY. James died in Hart Co KY, on 26 Oct 1926. On 26 Nov 1878 when he was 33, he married Margaret Susan DAVIS in Metcalfe Co KY. Born on 3 Oct 1860 in Metcalfe Co KY. Margaret Susan died in Monroe, Hart Co KY, on 23 Apr 1920. They had the following children:

1. James Henry (1879-1901)
2. Cora Lee (1880-)
3. Alva Green (1881-1940)

 

F. Phoebe Fannie ATWELL. Born on 3 Mar 1848 in KY. Phoebe Fannie died on 15 Jul 1925. On 25 Apr 1869 when Phoebe Fannie was 21, she married William Benjamin FANCHER, son of William J FANCHER & Elizabeth MOUSER, in Metcalfe Co KY. Born in 1845 in Metcalfe Co KY. William died in Metcalfe Co KY, on 19 Apr 1885. They had the following children, plus two others who have not been identified:

1. Florinda (1870-1912)
2. William B (1872-)
3. James F (ca1874-)
4. George M (ca1875-)
5. Henry J (1876-)
6. Edward S (1878-)
7. Charles N (ca1885-)

G. Mary Lucretia ATWELL. Born in 1850 in KY. Buried in Rock-Atwell Cemetery, Metcalfe Co KY. On 22 Dec 1872, she married as his first wife Reuben Henry STILTS, son of George STILTS & Patsy NUNN, in Metcalfe Co KY. Born on 6 Jan 1850 in KY. Reuben Henry died in Green Co KY, on 19 Oct 1941. They had the following children:

1. James H (187-)
2. Martha S (ca1876-)

H. Susan Elizabeth ATWELL. Born on 24 Jan 1852 in Metcalfe Co KY. Susan died in Metcalfe Co KY, on 21 Jul 1903. On 17 Dec 1871, she married Abram Thomas ROCK in Metcalfe Co KY. Born on 24 Dec 1846 in KY. Abram Thomas died on 27 Oct 1935. They had the following children:

1. Lucinda Margaret (1872-1959)
2. Mary Alice (1875-1955)
3. Alzora Gertrude (1876-1924)
4. Frances Elizabeth (1877-1907)
5. Emmet Lee (1885-1976)
6. Hattie Marie (1886-1961)

 

I. William Rush ATWELL. Born on 15 Apr 1854 in Metcalfe Co KY. William Rush died in Horse Cave, Hart Co KY, on 23 Oct 1943. On 15 Dec 1876 when William Rush was 22, he first married Susan M NUNN, daughter of William H NUNN & Katheryn SHOFNER, in Metcalfe Co KY. Born in 1858. Susan M died in 1883. They had the following children:

1. John Wesley (1880-1968)
2. William Benjamin (1882-1975)

On 24 Dec 1882 when William Rush was 28, he second married Jane C HUFF, daughter of Lorenzo Dow HUFF & Laura Frances GENTRY, in Metcalfe Co KY. Born in 1866 in Hart Co KY. Jane C died in Horse Cave, Hart Co KY, in 1891/1893. They had the following children:

1. Mary Frances (1884-1980)
2. Wood (1886-1977)
3. Lucy Birdie (1887-1985)
4. Henry M (1891-1975)

J. Richard Job ATWELL. Born on 19 Mar 1856 in KY. Richard Job died on 3 Feb 1905. On 25 Jan 1881 Richard married Frances Elizabeth DAVIS in KY. Born on 10 Jan 1863. Frances Elizabeth died on 26 Mar 1909. They had the following children:

1. Ethel (1882-1902)
2. Pearlie/Perry (1883-1910)
3. James/Ira (1885-1906)
4. William/Ezra (1886-1903)
5. Almedia/Lonzory (1888-1905)
6. Viola/Aura (1890-1906)
7. Samuel B (1892-1966)
8. Charlie (1896-)
9. Martha (1897-1914)
10. Even/Magdalene (1898-ca1910)
11. Luther R (ca1901-)

 

© 2008, Kathy Alvis Patterson

 

[1] Atwell tombstones, Rock Cemetery, Hart Co KY. Photos sent by Hubert Atwell, 1967. The identification of Benjamin as a son of John Atwell Jr comes from descendants living in the Green and Hart County areas of Kentucky.

[2] Green County Marriage bond, 16 Oct 1833, signed by Benjamin Atwell & Joel Forbis, also consent signed by William Erwin, father, and witnessed by Joel Forbis. County Clerk’s Office, Greensburg KY.

[3] Cemetery inscriptions.Susan’s marriage bond includes her father’s permission. Both the bond and permission were signed by her maternal uncle Joel Forbis, brother of Sarah (Forbis) Erwin.

[4] Note they had two sons named William, plus a Willis.