gxgre030

WILLIAM GREENWOOD

The Story as I know it:

The 1850 Trimble County Kentucky Census states that William Greenwood was born in Maryland in 1780. However, 1860 the Trimble County Census states he was born 1780 in Delaware Greenwoods have been found in the Kent Counties in both states. They are on the Eastern Shore and adjoin with no natural seperation like a river. Joseph Greenwood and Martha Jones are his parents.
Joseph served both Delaware and Maryland in the Revolution. About 1785 the family moved to Rowan County, North Carolina where they lived until 1797. They next moved to Lincoln County, Kentucky.

A William Greenwood married Elizabeth Evans September 3, 1800 in Lincoln County, Kentucky. Either this is another William or, if our's than Elizabeth died without leaving any children. Our William married Rutha Clampett on August 5, 1806 in Lincoln Ct. from Lincoln County Kentucky Marriage Index Her family were also Delaware. We know this is our Rutha because the name appears in the children of Rutha and William and the Clampitt family lives in close proximity to the Greenwood family when they moved to Trimble county. 1820 Shelby Co. Ky census M33_24, page 167.

According to a personal record of the Maddox family written by Ernest Greenwood Maddox about 1920, the children of William Greenwood were Joseph, John C., Elisha, Isaac, and Moses. The 1860 Trimble County census again gives us ages:
1. Joseph age 52, born 1808 in Lincoln County married to Nancy Peggs
2. John was born about 1810 and died before 1850 leaving his wife Martha with at least 2 children. She had not remarried by 1870.
3. Elisha, age 48, born 1812 in Lincoln Ct.
4. Isaac, age 44, born in 1816 in Kentucky
5. Moses, age 42, born 1818 in Shelby Ct

In 1824 William Greenwood purchased 200 acres on Barebone Creek. It was part of Oldham County at the time, but became Trimble county in 1837. Oldham county Ky Deed Book A, page 36. It is listed in the 1837 Trimble County Tax List 1837. Barebone Creek, is a shallow, narrow creek that flows into the Ohio river. It is filled with white thin rock that looks like bones. I'm sure the land is also filled with rock. It looked like poor farmland, with few places wide enough to plant a field. The deed does not seem to include any of the actual stream. Re the Tax List 1837 it was valued at $3 an acre, which was low at that time - ie poor farmland. However, Julia found an old map which shows BareBone Creek Rd to be a major road to the river. So perhaps there was the potential for trade.

The 1830 Oldham County Kentucky Census roll 40, page 296 finds a number of family together. The William Greenwood family has both male and female 50 - 60 years old and 4 sons at home and eldest son Joseph Greenwood is listed just next to them. Also, nearby are the Peggs and Moreland families. The 1840 Trimble County Kentucky Census roll, page lists Joseph Greenwood with wife both 30-40 and one male 50-60. This is most likely our William as his wife, Rutha had died sometime in the last 10 years.

Tracing the family through counties brings up the issue of County formation. My surmise is that the family started in Lincoln county and between 1812 and 1818 had moved to a spot that was first in Shelby County, created in 1792, then Oldham County, created in 1823 from Shelby County and finally in Trimble County, created in 1837 from Oldham County, without ever moving.

William Greenwood married Mary Parham on Sept 27, 1842 in Trimble County. Acccording to the County marriage record her name at the time of the marriage was Mary Rowlett. She had been married twice before, first to Thomas Hudson, and secondly to John Rowlett. From Lunenburg County Powers of Attorney (Deed Book 24), 1815-1819, by L.H. Hart - abstract - p. 406. Daniel Parham gave his wife, Rebecca Power of Attorney, then it went to their son-in law through the Deed dated April 21, 1818. It lists all their living children including "Mary Hudson, formerly Parham." The 1850 Trimble County Census notes Mary Parham, age 65 was born in Virginia. The census also told us that he was a farmer and the real estate value of his property was listed as $800.

The 1860 census still finds William and Mary in Trimble County. They were in Garretts. Unfortunately, I can't find Garretts on any map, but apparently they had moved to be closer to her sons. Thomas and William Rowlett were on the same Census page 42. He was 80 years old and Mary was 74. They property was valued at $600. He died sometime after 1860 and before 1870 when Mary Greenwood was listed alone on the federal census. However, the 1870 Trimble County Census shows that she was living with Martha J. and Daniel Rowlett..Mary was then 84 years old. She is not found on the 1880 Trimble County Census. Julia Mortenson has information that she died in Trimble County, but I do not know the source at this time.

RESEARCH QUESTIONS

If you know the answer please CONTACT US.

1. When did William die?

2. When did Mary die?

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Doc; gxgre030
Date created: 4/28/2009
Date Edited 6/21/2014
Date Edited 8/10/2014
Date edited 11/4/2024