Henry Pennington marriage to Martha "Patty" Smith
I am trying to find any possible marriage record for Henry Pennington (b abt 1754, Albemarle Parish, Sussex, possibly Surry) and Martha "Patty" Smith. Based on deeds, tax lists, and wills, Henry lived 1777-1803 in Mecklenburg, VA. He moved with Patty Smith Pennington and his family to Wake, NC in 1803 after his father died and left a will that year. He is in the 1810 Wake tax list, then no more record. He left no will and I find no probate records for him.
He was son of James Pennington (b abt 1722 Surry; d Mecklenburg, 1803).
Some Pennington Research Association records have Henry's wife as Martha "Patty" Smith. I can't find who her parents are or when or where she was born. Her Smith family seems to have a close connection to a John "Turk" Smith whose wife was a Paughlina/Paulina Walker, daughter of Silvanus Walker (b. New Kent 1718).
Two of Henry Pennington's sons were named James Smith Pennington and A. Smith Pennington and both married daughters of Zachariah Smith in Wake, NC.
Thank you for any help with this.
Paul Pennington
Answers
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ooohh! That's gonna be a hard one! There usually aren't marriage records this early, so you have use a lot of logic. Have you worked your way through all the deeds and tax lists or just spot checked them? Sometimes the deeds have better documentation of where the land comes from than wills do. I know we've found many that say the land which is being sold was received as inheritance from a father or grandfather, even for the wife. So something like that could definitely help sort out your Martha. Sometimes it helps if you trace back in the previous research to see how people have come up with the maiden name for a wife. It can sometimes give you clues on more research.
I looked this couple up in FamilySearch Family Tree and it looks like you only have a handful of sources attached to them. Are those sources all that you have? If so, I'd start by finding John Smith's will and inventory/accounts for his estate. Find James Pennington's actual will recorded in Mecklenburg, including the inventory and any accounts for his estate. Go through all the tax lists forward and back to be certain when both men first appear in them and when they no longer show up. Sometimes the men will move to a new location before bringing their wives and families to join, so it is always possible that you will find traces of them in both locations right around the time of the move.
I did locate that John Smith will. What is interesting is that Henry Pennington wasn't named executor in the will. He and Paulina became administrators because John Smith's two sons refused executorship. I'd definitely look into this Smith family more.
Any thoughts on any of this?
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