Charity (Wells) Cosgrove (1795 - 1878)

Born 15 Mar 1795 in Orange, North Carolina, United States

Ancestors

Wife of Benjamin Underwood — married 29 Aug 1811 in Chatham, North Carolina, United States

Wife of Patrick Cosgrove — married 14 Dec 1839 in Orange, Indiana, United States

Descendants

Died 1878 at about age 82 in Paoli Township, Orange, Indiana, United States

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Biography

Charity Wells was born in 1795. At the time of her birth, her parents Nathan Wells and Esther Ward were members of the Cane Creek Monthly Quaker Meeting church in Orange County, North Carolina.

Charity Wells was married to Benjamin Underwood in 1811 at Chatham County, North Carolina.^[1]

Charity Wells Underwood migrated west into Indiana with a large wagon train of Quaker settlers. This was around the time that Indiana gained statehood.

Charity Wells Underwood was second married to Patrick Cosgrove in 1839.^[2] The couple maintained their residence in Orange County, Indiana throughout their marriage.^[3]

Charity Wells Underwood did not move from the homestead and farm of her first husband, Benjamin Underwood. She simply moved her new, younger, husband into the household.^[4] He was said to have been a soldier during the Mexican American War, which would have been fought during their marriage.

Patrick Cosgrove was deceased before the 1850 Census.^[5][6] The widow Charity Wells Underwood Cosgrove seems to have remained at the Benjamin Underwood farm for many years.^[7]

Apparently, the widow Underwood and Cosgrove used both names in her widowhood, perhaps because she had many children with Benjamin Underwood and no children with Patrick Cosgrove. Charity Wells "Underwood" was living in the home of her daughter Mahala Underwood Dean at Orange County, Indiana at the 1870 Census.^[8]

Charity Wells Underwood Cosgrove died in 1878.^[9]

Research Note

Several researchers, notably find a grave, use a middle name of Elizabeth for her. However, this was the name of one of her granddaughters, Charity Elizabeth Covert. There is literally no evidence for a middle name and evidence to the contrary that she had a sister named Elizabeth.

Sources

1. ↑ "North Carolina Marriages, 1759-1979", database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q29D-YRY8 : 5 January 2021), Charity Wells in entry for Benjamin Underwood, 1811.
2. ↑ "Indiana Marriages, 1811-2019," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KZC4-TCG : 3 August 2022), Patrick Crosgrove and Charity Underwood, 14 Dec 1839; citing Orange, Indiana, United States, Marriage License, Indiana Commission on Public Records, Indianapolis; FHL microfilm 005014436.
3. ↑ "United States Census, 1840," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHB6-P6F : 10 June 2022), Patrick Crosgrove, Paoli Township, Orange, Indiana, United States; citing p. 2, NARA microfilm publication , (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll ; FHL microfilm .
4. ↑ "Orange Peelings" July, August, September 2009 Vol. XXVII Issue #3. Orange County Genealogical Society, P. O. Box 344, Paoli, IN 47454.
5. ↑ The Will of Patrick Cosgrove, Orange County, Indiana, Will Book 1, Family History Library Film Number 005014455, Image 216 of 476.
6. ↑ "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MHJ1-489 : 19 December 2020), Charity Cosgrove, Paoli, Orange, Indiana, United States; citing family , NARA microfilm publication (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
7. ↑ "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M4NM-V4V : 18 February 2021), Charity Cosgrove, 1860.
8. ↑ "United States Census, 1870", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MX6C-MQV : 28 May 2021), Charity Underwood in entry for Mahala Dean, 1870.
9. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/179825050/charity-elizabeth-underwood_cosgrove: accessed 11 October 2022), memorial page for Charity Elizabeth Wells Underwood Cosgrove (15 Mar 1795–1878), Find a Grave Memorial ID 179825050, ; Maintained by KH (contributor 46835971) Burial Details Unknown.