Robert Pennell (abt. 1640 - bef. 1729)

Born about 25 Oct 1640 in Balderton, Nottinghamshire, England

Ancestors

Husband of Hannah Elizabeth (Hyandson) Pennell — married 19 Feb 1665 in Balderton, Nottinghamshire, England

Descendants

Died before 25 Feb 1729 before about age 88 in Middletown Twp., Chester Co., PA

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Mary Carpenter [send private message]

Biography

Robert was a Friend (Quaker)

Origins
Robert Pennell was baptized on 25 October 1640 at the parish of Balderton, Nottinghamshire, England, a son of Robert Pennell, of Balderton, Nottinghamshire, and his wife, Isabel.^[1]

Marriage(s) and Children
Robert Pennell married 19 February 1665, Balderton, Nottinghamshire, England Hanna Hyandson. ^[2] Hannah appears to have been Robert's only wife. ^[3] There is no record supporting the existence of a 2nd wife refer to the Research Notes for further explanation. Robert and Hannah's known children were ^{[3] [1]} :

• Infant son, bur 1666 Balderton
• Ann Pennell, b c. 1668, Balderton; d. 5th mo. 1749; m. 2nd mo, 17th, 1689, m. 2nd mo, 17 1689, Benjamin Mendenhall Concord MM [Mendenhall, pg.19.] Chichester MM [Mendenhall, pg.64.]
• Elizabeth Pennell, bpt Nov 26th, 1670, Balderto, Notts. ^[4] ; d in PA; m. 1690, Josiah Taylor
• Hannah Pennell, b. 7th mo., 23, 1673, England; d. 10th mo, 31, 1721, Pennsylvania; m. 9th mo, 23, 1692, John Sharples at Middletown Township at house of John Bowater
• Joseph Pennell, b. 12th mo, 10, 1674, England; d. 9th mo, 30 1756, Pennsylvania; m. 1701, Alice, dau of William Garrtt and Ann his wife
• James Pennell, b. 11th mo, 9, 1676; prob. d. young
• Jane Pennell, b. 5th mo, 13, 1678; d. 6th mo, 27, 1736; m. 1698, Samuel Garratt (son of William Garrtt who was b. Harby, 5th mo, 7, 1672 and who d. 1st mo, 4, 1743/4, Pennsylvania)
• William Pennell, b. 11th mo, 8, 1681; d. 1757, Pennsylvania; m. 8th mo, 26th, 1710, Mary, dau of Thomas Mercer

Society of Friends
Robert followed the teaching of George Fox and in about 1673, he and Hannah joined the Society of Friends.^[1] They attended the meeting held at Fulbeck in Lincolnshire, just a few miles east of Balderton. In "1684 on the 3rd day of the 5th month" (3 July 1684), they received a certificate of removal from the Friends of Fulbeck.^[1] This was certainly in preparation for their emigration to Pennsylvania. The other families who who traveled with them were headed by: Thomas Garrett, Hugh Rodnell, Henry Pennell, and Richard Parker. By 1686, they had joined the Middletown meeting at Chester County.^[1]

According to author Cope "Robert Pennell, with wife Hannah, settled in Middletown township as early as 1686". ^[3]

According to Lloyd, on arriving in Chester county, Pennsylvania Robert became an active member of the Middletown Meeting. [Lloyd] In 1687 he was appointed Constable for Middletown in 1687. [Cope & Lloyd] In 1691 he purchased 250 acres of land in Edgmont township and 264 acres in 1705 "to the north of land of Philip Yarnall, extending from the present Howellville to the Willistown line." ^{[1] [3]} According to author Cope "both [Robert and Hannah] Pennell were active members in the Middletown Monthly Meeting. "^[3]

According to author Mendenhall, Robert Pennell attended the Chichester Friends Meeting with son-in-law, Benjamin Mendanhall, who married daughter Ann.^[5]

Death
Wife Hannah Pennell passed away 12 mo, 4, 1711. ^[3] Robert Pennell passed away about 1728. ^[3] Robert wrote his will on 22 May 1727 at Middletown Township., Chester County (now Delaware County), Pennsylvania. Robert Pennell of Middletown, yeoman. 22 May 1727. 25 Feb 1728/9 Pennsylvania, and it was proved on 25 February 1728/9. ^[6] :

• To grandson Joseph, son of Joseph Pennell 200 acres of land being part of 5000 acres purchased of Wm. Smith in Edgemont he paying L30 to his 4 sisters the same being their grandfather's legacies andf also L6 per year to his grandfather Robt. Pennell during life.
• To grandaughter Hannah Jackson, granddaughters Alice, Ann, Jane and Mary Pennell L5 each and the L10 formerly given to grandson Robt. Pennell deceased.
• To grandson Thomas Pennell L5.
• To James Pennell L10.
• To Hannah Pennell L5.
• To Ann Pennell L5.
• To Robt. Pennell L10.
• To Wm. Pennell L10
• To dau's Ann and Benjamin Mendenhall, my bed.
• To John Sharpless 10 shillings and 5 shillings to each of his children.
• To Jane and Saml. Garrett L1 and 5 shillings to each of their children.
• To Robert Taylor 2/6 shillings.
• To Phebe Lewis 5 shillings.
• To Hannah Mercer 5 shillings.
• Remainder to sons Joseph and William, also executors.

Witnesses: John Cooper, Mark Fester, Eph. Jackson.

Research Notes
Caution, Find-A-Grave Memorial Error Many family tree's include an alleged 2nd wife for Robert named Elizabeth (unknown) Pennell (1640-1670). This family tree assertion apparently generated a Find-A-Grave electronic memorial for Elizabeth which isn't based upon an actual grave site. The source for her existence appears to have come from the Lloyd secondary source referenced herein. Lloyd is cited elsewhere in Robert's WikiTree bio when he specifically refers to a primary Quaker MM source or a land transaction record.

The existence of a 2nd wife named Elizabeth seems to be an error in Lloyd's compilation due either to a misreading of Balderton parish records or miscommunication, between Lloyd and his English counterparts supplying him with family history data. But, as earlier stated, the notion of a second wf. named Elizabeth has been subsequently picked up, without critical examination, in many family history tree's.

• Fact: Christening (25 October 1640) Balderton, Nottinghamshire, England
• Fact: emigration (5 March 1684) Certificate from Fulbeck MM in England to Pennsylvania
• Fact: Burial (February 1728) Lima, Middletown Township, Delaware, Pennsylvania
• Fact: His Will May 22, 1727. To grandson Joseph son of Joseph Pennell, 200 acres of land being part of the of 500 acres purchased of Wm. Smith in Edgemont be paying 30 pounds of his 4 sisters the same being their grandfathers legacies and also 6 pounds per year to his grand-father Robert Pennell during life. To granddaughter Hannah Jackson, to granddaughters Alice, Ann, Jane, and Mary Pennell 5 pounds each and 10 pounds formerly given to Grandson Robert Penell deceased. To grandson Thomas Pennell 10 pounds. To James Penell 10 pounds. To Hannah Pennell 5 pounds. To Ann Pennell 5 pounds. To Robert Pennell 10 pounds. To William Pennell 10 pounds. To daughter Ann and Benjamin, my bed. To John Sharpless 10 shillings and 5 shilling to each of his children. To Jane and Samuel Garrett 1 pound and 5 shillings to each of their children. To Robert Taylor (it says) 2/6 shillings. To Phebe Lewis 5 shillings. To Hannah Mercer 5 shillings. Remainder to sons Joseph and William also executors. Witnesses: John Cooper, Mark Fester, Eph. Jackson.
• Fact: http://familysearch.org/v1/LifeSketch Robert Pennell, son of Robert and Isabel Pennell, emigrated from Balderton, Nottinghamshire, England, to Pennsylvania Colony about 1686 with his wife, Hannah (Hyandson) Pennell and family. They were the parents of Ann, Elizabeth, Hannah, Joseph, James, Jane, William and Alice Pennell. Robert was an active member of Middletown Monthly Meeting. He served as constable for Chester County in 1687.

Hannah JOHNSON Pennell was the second wife of Robert Pennell. She had: Hannah, Joseph, William, James, and Jane. By his first wife, Elizabeth HYANDSON Pennell, were 1. a male child who died soon, 2. Elizabeth, and 3. Ann. The children accompanied Robert and Hannah to Pennsylvania. Ann married Benjamin Mendenhall (Contributed by Leona Gustafson)

There is a confusion of names and dates here between Robert Pennell's two wives. He married first Elizabeth Hyandson and then later Hannah Johnson.

Lloyd, Howard William and Glenn, Thomas Allen, Lloyd Manuscripts (Press of The New Era Printing Company, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, 1912), Page 255. Robert Pennell was born in the parish of Balderton, Nottinghamshire, England, and baptized 25th October, 1640, being son of Robert Pennell and Isabel, his wife. He died in Middletown Township, now Delaware County, in 1728. Middletown was then Chester County. The date of his will was may 22nd, 1727; proved February 25th, 1728-9. Recent investigations made in the Balderton parish registers, show that Robert Pennell was married twice. In 1665 he married Elizabeth Hyandson, who died about the year 1670-1. He married secondly, Hannah (surname unknown), and had issue by both wives. About the year 1673 he became interested in the views as set forth by George Fox, and became a member of the Society of Friends as did his wife Hannah. She was born in the year 1640; died 12th month 4th, 1711, in Pennsylvania, at the age of 71 years. (Contributed by Find A Grave)

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5} Lloyd, Howard Williams, (1912) Lloyd manuscripts. Genealogics of the families of Awbrey-Vaughan, ... Lancaster, PA: Pg.255-261; Press of the New era printing co., Archive.org accessed 3 October 2016 (Pages 257-61).
2. ↑ Balderton, Nottinghamshire, England, 1663-1665. British Isles Vital Records Index, 2nd Edition. Genealogical Society of Utah; Salt Lake City, Utah; FamilySearch Film No: 503473. Reprinted as "England & Wales Marriages, 1538-1988' [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2008. Accessed 13 Jul 2020.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6} Cope, Gilbert, comp. "Genealogy of the Sharpless Family descended from John & Jane Sharples, Settlers near Chester, Pennsylvania, 1682" pg. 87-88; pub. 1887; Philadelphia, PA., Press of Dando Printing & Publishing Co. [1]
4. ↑ British Isles Vital Records Index, 2nd Edition. Reprinted as "England & Wales, Christening Index, 1530-1980" [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2008. Accessed 14 Jul 2020.
5. ↑ Mendenhall, William, (1912) History, Correspondence, and Pedigrees of the Mendenhalls of England .... Greenville, OH: C.R. Kemble Press, Archive.org accessed 3 October 2016 (Page 64).
6. ↑ Chester County Wills. Located at the Chester County Archives and Records Service. Reprinted Lineages, Inc., comp.. Chester County, Pennsylvania Wills, 1713-1825 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2000. Accessed 13 Jul 2020.

• "Family Tree," database, FamilySearch (http://familysearch.org : modified 11 September 2023, 17:18), entry for Robert Pennell (PID https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/4:1:KND1-CG7 ); contributed by various users.

Acknowledgements

• Profile creation by Bryan Patterson, Thursday, November 13, 2014.
• Contributions by direct descendant Johnson-43462