1793 Will of John Underwood

 

Will of John Underwood (d. 1811) of Surry County, North Carolina.

(source: North Carolina Probate Records, 1735-1970)

 

Will dated 25 Aug 1793 & presented to court May 1811.

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Susan (Underwood) Casteel of Macoupin Co., TN

Finally, I located an obituary for  Susan Underwood Casteel, wife of James M. Casteel, daughter of Benjamin and Mary Underwood.  Found in the FultonHistory.com historic newspapers collection, this article gives us a few new pieces information.  From census records, we knew she was born in May 1816 in Tennessee, but now we have a more specific date and the county in TN where her she was born.

14 July 1903

Carlinville Daily Enquirer

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William W Underwood (1889-1971) WWI Veteran

William Walter Underwood

b. 22 Sept 1889 in Carlinville, Macoupin, Illinois

son of Joseph Hamilton & Rachel (Howard) Underwood

Willamette National Cemetery

Oregon

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William Underwood of NC - Revolutionary War Pension Record Abstract

        

Capt., Nc Line, Capt. William UNDERWOOD, NC Line, son of John and Margaret UNDERWOOD (earlier of Fauquier Co, VA) was born 17 or 19 Feb 1756, lived in Surry Co, NC at enlistment, married Susan or Susanna KERBEY 28 Feb 1782 in Surry Co, NC. He died 20 Dec 1814, and his widow applied 2 Mar 1841 in Anderson Co, TN, aged abt 80. She died 5 Mar 1851 leaving children Washington UNDERWOOD and Elizabeth SHARPE and both were living in 1855, the said Washington UNDERWOOD was of Anderson Co, TN in 1855, soldier's brothers John UNDERWOOD aged 86 and Thomas UNDERWOOD aged 83 were both of Sevier Co, TN in 1853; soldier 's grandsons Sevier and Haywood UNDERWOOD who were sons of soldier's son John, and James UNDERWOOD were mentioned, and in 1855 a William UNDERWOOD was of Anderson Co, TN and a John KERBY or KERBEY had served with Capt. William UNDERWOOD, but no relationshiop to soldier's wife Susan was given. Children's births were: John born 24 No 1782, James born 31 Dec 1783, Kerbey born 13 Apr 1785, and died in 1794, William born 6 Jan 1788 and d in Mar 1813, Betsey or Elizabeth born 11 Nov 1790, Susany or Sucky born 4 Feb 1795 and Washington born 1 Dec 1796.  (source: TNGenWeb Project)

Pension application of William Underwood

Capt. William Underwood was the brother of our ancestor George Underwood (1772-1826).

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1833 Marriage License of James Casteel & Susannah Underwood

(click image to enlarge)

Marr. License

----

James Casteel

&

Susanna Underwood

------

Issued 7th

August, 1833

------

Executed 8th of August 1833 (in side margin)

in Knoxville, Knox Co., TN

....That's it? 
 Like many, I was hoping for so much more information.
But I am happy to at least have this image.

~ ~ ~

Madness Monday No More!

...at least in regards to Susan Underwood's father.

With the receipt of a Macoupin County, Illinois, court record (below),

the theory of her parentage and family is 

all wrapped up with a bow!

 (click to enlarge)

Who knew one small paragraph could contain such wonderful information!
 ~ ~ ~

52 Weeks to Better Genealogy Challenge - It's here!!

The Interlibrary Loan

While researching the ancestry of Susannah Underwood and taking down her parental brick wall I came across references to snipets of a book that appeared to have potential in filling in the gaps of her ancestry.

The Underwoods, from Roaring Gap (NC) to Dumplin Valley (TN) and onward: And related families

by Burl Underwood  

1987

It was listed on Amazon as being 'out of print' and I saw one copy on the resale market for ~$100!
...Time to look into the interlibrary loan option.

The interlibrary loan process allows a user of one library to borrow books or receive photocopies of documents that are owned by another library. The patron makes a request with their local library, which then identifies owners of the desired item, places the request, receives the item, makes it available to the user, and arranges for its return. The Fairfax County Public Library Chantilly Branch did this for me at no charge.  It was extremely simple and painless.  I received an email alerting me that the book was available at my branch.
I was very happy to learn that I could actually check it out and bring it home to gleen all the important and wonderful facts from the book in the comfort of my P.J's!
Now all I need are more hours in the day....

Underwood - Doing the Happy Dance

Finally - While researching Underwood on this Surname Saturday in an effort to identify the parents of our ancestor, Susannah (Underwood) Casteel, I was able to break down a long standing brickwall!!
Long suspecting Benjamin Underwood as the father of Susannah I was, over time, able to put together different facts the supported this theory - but at last, by changing the focus of my search to his wife named in the 1850 census as Mary, I have finally found my link.

I found Mary Underwood residing with one of the sons of James and Susannah (Underwood) Casteel in the 1860 Macoupin Co., TN census. (Joseph Casteel - mistranscribed as Castell)
This, together with the other information shown below, allows me to finally feel confident enough to make the parental connection of Benjamin & Mary Underwood to Susannah Underwood.

1830 Blount Co. Tennessee census
Underwood, Benjamin
males: 3 - 5-10yrs; 1 - 10-15yrs; 1 30-40yrs
females: 1 - 0-5yrs; 1 - 10-15yrs; 1 - 20-30yrs
(Susannah fits in the 10-15 yr catagory)

Also in Blount Co. TN:
Deeds 1819-1833 - abstracted by Jane Kizer Thomas
pg 161; 870. (3:194) Benjamin UNDERWOOD to Samual Henery and son:
30 Jun 1836, $75, 3 head of horse, 1 bay mare, 1 clay bank mare,
1 sorrell horse, 4 head of cattle, 35 head of hogs, 1 loom, 1 cart, 1
spinning wheel. Underwood shall pay Henry and sons the sum of
$75 within 12 months for redemption of the property. Sig:
Benjamin (X) Underwood. Wit: P. Nelson Morony, James Casteel
2 Jul 1836
(James M. Casteel is the spouse of Susannah - They were married in Knox Co. TN in 1833)

1840 Knox Co TN - Benj.Underwood

  Males: 3 15-20yrs, 1 20-30yrs &

           1 50-60 yrs

 Females: 1 5-10yrs, 1 10-15yrs, 1 20-30 &

           1 40-50

And finally, with names, in Hamilton Co. TN
1850 census
hh918 Underwood, Benjamin 62, M farmer NC; Mary 50 NC; Richard 29 M
farmer; Martha 17 F
~ ~

Surname Saturday - Casteel

Ancestors of James S. Casteel of Ohio> CA:

Creed Clayton Casteel  (IL>OH) m. Rose Welcheck >James Polk Casteel  (TN>IL) m. Arra Bacon 
> James Monroe Casteel (TN>IL) m. Susannah Underwood
> Abednego Casteel (TN) m. Agnes Hensley 
 > Abednego Casteel m. Sarah (MD>TN) 
>Edmund Casteel III m. Rebeccah 
> Edmund Casteel II  m. Johanna
> Edmund Du Chastel
of Philadelphia -  Captain & Privateer 
 m. Christian Bom  07 MAR 1693 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- - -

Tombstone Tuesday - James M. Casteel

James Monroe Casteel
Born 24 Feb. 1812 in Tennessee
Son of Abednego Casteel & Agnes Hensley
Married Susannah Underwood on 8 Aug 1833 in Knoxville, TN
They had 11 children.
James M. died 19 May 1886 in Macoupin Co. IL and is buried at Charity Baptist Cemetery in Bird Township.

Who's Your Daddy?

I have been seeking the parents of Susannah E. Underwood (b. May 1816 TN) since Feb 1998.
I am hoping someone might give me a fresh insight or lead to our Susannah.
Census records indicate her parents were born in the Carolinas.
She married James M. Casteel on 8 Aug 1833 in Knox Co. TN (featured on 3/17/09 Tombstone Tuesday).
Although she died 07 July 1903 the Macoupin Co. IL records office could not locate a death certificate for her. Her obituary referred to her only as Mrs. James M. Casteel aged 87 yrs of Bird Township and made no reference to her parentage or sibs.
In July 1903 - Just before her death there was a note in the local newspaper where she resided:
"E.H.Nix & mother are called to Susan Casteel's bedside. "
I have no idea who EH Nix is (or even if EH is male or female...).
I believe this person is related to Susan though. I am guessing they would be connected through her Underwood line because EH doesn't fit any of our Casteel connections...

Over time I have come to suspect Benjamin Underwood to be her father.
I have located the following records referring to a Benjamin Underwood. Perhaps someone is familiar with any of them:

1830 Knox Co. Tennessee census
Underwood, Benjamin
males: 3 - 5-10yrs; 1 - 10-15yrs; 1 30-40yrs
females: 1 - 0-5yrs; 1 - 10-15yrs; 1 - 20-30yrs
Yes - she fits in there....

Also in Blount Co. TN:
Deeds 1819-1833 - abstracted by Jane Kizer Thomas
pg 161; 870. (3:194) Benjamin UNDERWOOD to Samual Henery and son:
30 Jun 1836, $75, 3 head of horse, 1 bay mare, 1 clay bank mare,
1 sorrell horse, 4 head of cattle, 35 head of hogs, 1 loom, 1 cart, 1
spinning wheel. Underwood shall pay Henry and sons the sum of
$75 within 12 months for redemption of the property. Sig:
Benjamin (X) Underwood. Wit: P. Nelson Morony, James Casteel
2 Jul 1836
well, there's a definite link

And in Hamilton Co. TN
1850 census
hh918 Underwood, Benjamin 62, M farmer NC; Mary 50 NC; Richard 29 M
farmer; Martha 17 F
I like their place of birth... but I do not know if these all refer to the same man.

To be honest I have let this pursuit of Susannah's parents lie low for quite awhile as I climbed other branches of our tree. Maybe something new is out there that I haven't connected to yet.
Thank you for any help/suggestions.