Ephraim Pennington V (abt. 1725 - abt. 1794)

Born about 1725 in Yadkin Valley, Caldwell County, North Carolina

Ancestors

Descendants

Died about 1794 at about age 69 in Rowan County, North Carolina, USA

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Biography

Note: The name of any wife of Ephraim Pennington V is not known. It is unlikely that the information on the FindaGrave website is correct that links Ephriam V to Sarah Burns. Some of the children that are linked there could not be her children. She would have been too young to be their mother.

Research Notes

'Ephraim b.1720: PRA Group 4

In 1761 the name of Ephraim appears in North Carolina Records. There are two Ephraims listed in Rowan Co. and are presumed to be Ephraim b.1689 (age 72) and his son Ephraim b.1720 (age 41).

Ephriam Pennington, b about 1720 is believed to be in the Pennington Research Groups Family Group 4. Contact them at http://penningtonresearch.org/family-groupsfg2000-04.htm. NOTE: THIS WEBSITE DOES NOT WORK.

October 1761 in Rowan Co: Two Ephraim’s listed on Tax List of Caleb Osborn

1762 Rowan Co.: Ephraim exempt from taxes

1768 Rowan Co. Tax List: Ephraim

In April of 1762 a Certificate from the Court of Rowan Co. was presented recommending that Ephraim Pennington be exempt from paying taxes and performing public duty. This action was customary for individuals of advanced age; therefore, it is reasonable to assume this was the Ephraim b.1689 approx. 73 years of age.

The Ephraim on the 1768 Tax List is assumed to Ephraim b.1720.

Possible Children of Ephraim b. 1720:

• Ephraim b.1745 (Pennsylvania)
• Timothy b.1748 (Pennsylvania)
• Richard b.1752 (Pennsylvania)
• Joshua b.1753
• Jemimah b.1760 (North Carolina)
• Robert b.1763 (North Carolina)

Based on the birth dates and locations of this Ephraim’s children, it would appear he came to North Carolina after 1752 and before 1761.

The PRA Group 1 and 4 sites refer to the issue that only Timothy and Richard are felt to be proven sons of Ephraim b.1720. The assumptions that Joshua and Richard were sons of Ephraim b.1720 seems reasonable based on locations, records and their apparent traveling together.

The source or reference of Ephraim b.1745 as the son of Ephriam b.1720 is unknown.

1772 Rowan Co. Tax List of Wm. Sharp: Ephraim with sons Timothy and Richard. 1777 Montgomery Co., Virginia.: Ephraim and Joshua take Oath of Allegiance for Capt. Enoch 1782 Montgomery Co., Virginia. Land Record: Ephraim 50 acres and Richard 50 acres. 1782 Montgomery Co., Virginia Tax List: Ephraim, Richard, Timothy, Micajah and Unkown. 1782 Montgomery Co., Virginia Militia List: Ephraim (listed and crossed off), Timothy, Joshua, Richard, Robert, Elijah and Micajah.

Note: Montgomery Co, Virginia was formed about 1777

It has been suggested that Ephraim b.1720 relocated from Rowan Co., North Carolina to Montgomery Co., Virginia between 1772 and 1777 and that this Ephraim’s sons Timothy b.1748, Richard b.1752 and Joshua moved with him. Ephraim would have been approx. 52 years old at that time and it is not unreasonable to assume that he could have been capable of making such a move. The location of the proposed son Ephraim b.1745 is unknown. This time frame is one of the key areas in attempting to identify the Ephraim b.1720 and the Ephraim b.1745.

There is an Ephraim listed in 1777 as taking an Oath of Allegiance for Capt. Osborne. Would the Ephraim b.1720 have taken such an Oath at the approx. age of 57 or could this be another Ephraim ?

In 1782 Ephraim’s name is listed and crossed out on the Militia List. Could this have been Ephraim b.1720 at age 62 or a younger Ephraim whose name was crossed off because he had left Montgomery Co. and eventually relocated to Wythe Co., Virginia ?

As previously noted, the source of an Ephraim b.1745 as a possible son of Ephraim b.1720 is unknown at this time. It is possible that the Ephraim in Montgomery Co., Virginia was the Ephraim b.1745 and that the Ephraim b.1720 never left Rowan Co. It would seem reasonable to consider that the Ephraim b.1720 either died in Rowan Co., North Carolina or Montgomery Co., Virginia. Certainly additional research is required regarding this possibility.

Ephraim b.1745:' Although the information on Ephraim b.1745 is somewhat vague, it is reasonable to assume there may have been an Ephraim born around that time. A key area to question is if he was the son of Ephraim b.1720 or possibly the son of Benajah b.1725. It is of interest that the first probable records for an Ephraim b.1745 appear at about the same time as documentation for Micajah b.1743 the believed son of Benajah. The fact that Benajah is also found in Montgomery Co., Virginia between 1782 and 1787 certainly makes one consider if this Montgomery Co., Virginia Ephraim could be more closely related to Benajah b.1725 than to the Ephraim b.1720. Additionally, the Montgomery Co., Virginia Ephraim appears in Wythe Co., Virginia with Benajah by 1793.

1793 Wythe Co., Virginia Tax List: Ephram, Benaji, Benaje 1793 Wilkes Co. Tax List: Ephraim: 0 acres and 1 poll, William 1794 Wilkes Co. Land Record: Ephraim 50 ac., Ephraim 50 ac. 1794 Wilkes Co. Tax List: Ephraim 50 ac. and 1 poll, William, William Jr. 1794 Grayson Co., Virginia.: Ephraim with 2 males 16 + (b. bef.1778) 1796 Wilkes Co. Tax List: Ephraim 100 ac. and 1 poll, Ephraim Jr. 50 ac. and 1 poll 1797 Wilkes Co. Land Grant: Ephraim 50 ac., Ephraim 50 ac. 1797 Wilkes Co. Tax List: Ephraim Sr. 66 ac. and 1 poll, Ephraim 50 acres and 1 poll 1799 Wilkes Co. Tax List: Ephraim Sr., Ephraim Note: Wythe Co. was formed in 1790 from Montgomery Co.

Grayson Co. was formed in 1793 from Wythe Co.In 1793 there are Ephraim’s in Wythe Co., Virginia, and Wilkes Co., North Carolina.By 1794 there is at least one Ephraim still in Wilkes Co., North Carolina and another Ephraim is in Grayson Co., Virginia. Although the Wilkes Co. and Grayson Co. locations were in close proximity to each other, based on the family information this would appear to be two different Ephraim’s.

Furthermore, it appears that the Ephraim in Montgomery Co., Wythe Co. and Grayson Co. was probably the same Ephraim and that the Wilkes Co. Ephraim was the Ephraim b.1769. Possible Children of Ephraim b.1745: Abel b.1768 (Group 30) Abraham b.1775 (Group 30) Aaron b. 1786 (Group 31) (Son of Ephraim & born in Virginia-Harlan Co., Kentucky Death Record).

One would have to assume that there is more to this family than is listed above. Three children in the span of some 18 years would not be consistent within the Pennington family unless there were several undocumented females born somewhere in between the gaps.

Furthermore, I have been unable to locate any substantial evidence which clearly suggests that Abel, Abraham and Aaron were indeed brothers. To date, no references have been located which would remotely connect the Group 30 Abel to the Group 30 Abraham or to Group 31 Aaron or any of the Ephraim’s.

The 1794 Grayson Co., Virginia record lists an Ephraim with two males 16 years plus (b. bef.1778). Could one of these males be the Group 30 Abel b.1768 or Abraham b.1775 with Ephraim b.1745 ?

The 1796, 1797 and 1799 Wilkes Co. references refer to Ephraim Sr. and Ephraim Jr. I have not seen the original documents to confirm if either of them was indeed listed as a Sr. or Jr. or if the transcriber of the records made an assumption. Certainly one could speculate that one of them was older than the other. It certainly appears there were at least two Ephraim’s in Wilkes Co., North Carolina during this time period.

If one were the Ephraim b.1720 he would have been approximately 79 years old. It would seem more likely that one was the Ephraim b.1745 and the other was most certainly the Ephriam b.1769 (re: 1850 Ashe Co. Census) I am somewhat of the opinion that the Grayson Co., Virginia Ephraim is the Ephraim b.1745 and by 1796 became a resident of Wilkes Co., North Carolina with the Ephraim b.1769 and that they were not father and son.

1800 Ashe Co. Land Records:

• Ephriam 50 ac.
• Ephraim 25 ac.
• Ephraim 100 ac.
• Ephraim 100 ac

1800 Ashe Co. Census:

• Ephraim 26-45 (b.1755-1774)
• Ephraim 45+(b.bef.1755) 10-16

1803 Ashe Co. Land Record:

• Ephraim 50 ac.

1805 Ashe Co. Land Record:

• Ephraim 50 ac.
• Ephraim 40 ac.

1807 Ashe Co. Court Records:

• Ephraim

1808 Ashe Co. Court Records:

• Ephraim

1809 Ashe Co. Court Record:

• Ephraim

1810 Ashe Co. Census:

• Ephraim 45+ (b.bef.1765)
• Ephraim 26-45.

Note': Ashe Co. was formed in 1799 from Wilkes Co.

Although there are multiple Ephraims listed on Ashe Co. Land Records, the 1800 Census only confirms there were two Ephraims in Ashe Co. during that time. It would seem that one of them was clearly the Ephraim b.1769 and he was obtaining multiple tracts of land and the other may well have been the Ephraim b.1745.

The 1800 Ashe Co. Census lists an Ephraim 45+ with a male 10-16. This could easily be the Ephraim b.1745 at age 55 and a possible son Aaron b.1786.

Aaron b.1786 (Group 31) would have been about 14 years old at the time of the 1800 Census. Aaron’s death record states he was born in Virginia and his father was Ephraim Pennington. This information would be consistent and could easily be the Ephraim who moved from Virginia to Wilkes Co. /Ashe Co. between 1794 and 1796. If there were an Ephraim b.1745 that has been speculated as the father of Aaron b.1786, this would almost have to be him.

The 1810 Ashe Co. Census did not list first names. Only a first initial was utilized. It is my opinion this has created some confusion regarding the Ephraim’s in Ashe Co. during that time.

Based on the various transcriptions and/or opinions, there were either 3 "E. Penningtons" listed in the Census or 2 "E. Penningtons" and possibly 1 "C. Pennington". No matter what the situation may be, one E. Pennington listed age 45+ could possibly be the Ephraim b.1745 at age 65. If correct, this would be the last known reference in North Carolina for an Ephraim b.1745.^[1]

Sources

1. ↑ NC Ephraim Pennington Research Written by James Pennington, 3825 Durfee Lane, Sherrills Ford, NC 28673-9807, PRA Group 31

• WikiTree profile Pennington-747 created through the import of My Family File072211.ged on July 25, 2011 by Grady Lucas.

• WikiTree profile Pennington-760 created through the import of My Family File072211.ged on July 25, 2011 by Grady Lucas.

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