Elizabeth Birdwell (abt. 1799 - 1872)

Born about 31 Dec 1799 in Sullivan County, North Carolina now Tennessee, USA

Ancestors

Wife of James Richardson Isbell — married 24 Apr 1813 in Madison, Alabama, United States

Wife of John E Conway — married before 1850 in Jackson County, Alabama

Descendants

Died 10 Jul 1872 at about age 72 in Colbert County, Alabama, USA

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Biography of Elizabeth Birdwell

Elizabeth Birdwell was part of a Southern Pioneer Family. Join: Southern Pioneers Project Discuss: southern_pioneers

Elizabeth Birdwell is the daughter of John Birdwell (son of George Birdwell and Mary L Looney Birdwell) and Mary Allen Birdwell. Some records have her born 1797. She was born either 31 Dec 1799 or 1 Jan 1800. Some records indicate the birth year as 1799, but the gravemarker gives the date 1800. From much research, it is believed that the most prevalent birth year is given as 1799, therefore is the correct one.

She and her sister, Sarah H Birdwell, are documented as first settlers in the state of Alabama. Their father went to Texas where he was killed in the line of his duties as Constable. Their mother, Mary Allen Birdwell died while the family lived in Lawrence County, Alabama.^[1]

First Settlers Historical Marker denoting Sarah Birdwell as a First Settler, as was her father John Birdwell and sister Elizabeth Birdwell.

Elizabeth Birdwell married James Richardson Isbell 24 Apr 1813 in Madison, Alabama Territory. The marriage date precedes the date of statehood. To this marriage were born thirteen known children:

Mary Ann Polly Isbell 1816–1889

William Birdwell Isbell 1818–

John S Isbell 1820–1895

Sarah Amanda "Manda" Isbell 1822–1830

Allen Isbell 1827–

Susan Anna Isbell 1827–1892

Margaret Isbell 1829–

Benjamin Isbell 1831–1906

James Hugh Isbell 1833–1902

Zachariah Isbell 1835–1863

Elizabeth Catherine Isbell 1838–1865

Lucinda Isbell 1841–1910

David Levi Isbell 1842–1918

Elizabeth Birdwell was married twice. Both times she was widowed. Her first husband, James Richardson Isbell died in 1844 in Jackson County, Alabama. Elizabeth Birdwell Isbell married circa 1847 to John E Conway, also spelled Conaway. Her second husband, John E Conway died in 1853. ^[2]

By 1870 Elizabeth Birdwell Isbell Conway, who lived in her daughter Lucinda Isbell Murray's household during her widowhood, moved to Colbert County, Alabama two years before her death when the two sisters, Lucinda Isbell Murray and Susan Anna Isbell Murray, and their families moved to Franklin County, Alabama, now Colbert County, Alabama. The year of their move from Jackson County to what was then Franklin County, Alabama was 1868;evidenced by land records.^[3]

Elizabeth Birdwell Isbell Conway is buried at Old Bethel Church Cemetery in Colbert County, Alabama. There are other relatives buried close by.^[4]

Parents named on daughter's death certificate:

Reference ID: cn 262

Name: Lucinda I. Murray [Lucinda Isbell Murray]

Event Date: 17 Dec 1910

Event Place: Littleville, Colbert, Alabama

Gender: Female

Age (Original): 65y

Father's Name: Jim Isbell [James R Isbell]

Mother's Name: Elizabeth Isbell [Elizabeth Birdwell Isbell]

Cemetery: [Osborn Hill Cemetery, Colbert County, Alabama]

GS Film number: 1894074

Digital Folder Number: 4025551

Image Number: 1700^[5]

Sources

1. ↑ Alabama Historical Commission marker: “Sarah (Birdwell) Isbell among first white settlers in Madison County, 1805.” The Alabama Review," Vol 45 (Tuscaloosa: University of Alabama Press, 1992), p.276
2. ↑ "Alabama County Marriages, 1809-1950," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QKZ3-CVST : 21 July 2015), James Isbell and Elizabeth Burdwell, 24 Apr 1813; citing Madison, Alabama, United States, county courthouses, Alabama; FHL microfilm 1,305,695
3. ↑ personal knowledge of Carolyn Murray Greer
4. ↑ Find A Grave Memorial# 18825782
5. ↑ "Alabama Deaths, 1908-1974," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JD87-755 : 15 February 2018), Elizabeth Isbell in entry for Lucinda I. Murray, 17 Dec 1910; citing reference cn 262, Department of Health, Montgomery; FHL microfilm 1,894,074