Who is Anderson Pettypool?

James F Poole

First Appearance

To date, the first record found of Anderson Pettypool is a summary of a 1789 Dinwiddie county Virginia court case, originally published in the William and Mary Colonial Quarterly, XIV, 139[1]

Edward Pegram, Jun., assignee of Vines Collier, plt. agt. Stephen Pettypool & Anderson Pettypool defts., in Debt. 1789.

Census

The 1800 US Census includes an Anderson Pettipool residing in Hallifax, Northampton, North Carolina[2].  The family is enumerated as:

Free White Persons – Males – Under 10: 2
Free White Persons – Males -10 thru 15: 1
Free White Persons – Males – 26 thru 44: 1
Free White Persons – Females – Under 10: 2
Free White Persons – Females – 26 thru 44: 1
Number of Household Members Under 16: 5
Number of Household Members Over 25: 2
Number of Household Members: 7

Assuming that this is the same individual as the 1789 Court case, Anderson would appear to have been born between 1756 and 1774.  Assuming again that he was 20 years of age or older in 1789 to have been involved in a legal dispute, the range probably narrows to between 1756 and 1769.

The 1810 US Census includes an Anderson Pettypool residing in Greensville, Virginia[3].  The family is enumerated as:

Free White Persons – Males – 26 thru 44 : 1
Free White Persons – Females – Under 10: 2
Free White Persons – Females – 10 thru 15: 1
Free White Persons – Females – 26 thru 44: 1
Number of Household Members Under 16: 3
Number of Household Members Over 25: 2
Number of Household Members: 5

It is difficult to determine if this is the same individual as the 1800 Census.  All the male children are missing, and one female child as well from 1800.  There are an additional two females.  Depending upon their actual ages in 1800, this could represent forming marriages and independent households for the children of 1800.  Alternately, this could be a younger Anderson Pettypool establishing a household in Greensville county, Virginia.

Marriage

On 27 July 1809, Anderson P Pool married Polley Mitchell in Greensville county, Virginia[4].  Is this a second marriage for the Anderson of the 1800 Census, or the first marriage of the Anderson of the 1810 Census?  Or perhaps this is entirely another individual- the “P Pool” was a common shortening of “Pettypool”, but not a certain indication.

Associates

Vines Collier

Vines Collier may have assigned his 1789 case to Edward Pegram because he had already left Virginia.  His name is included on a memorial to Congress, referred 21 Nov 1814, by citizens of Wilkinson County, Mississippi Territory, residing west of the “eighteen mile line” seeking that the land they have settled on and improved may be offered for sale.  The document records Vines Collier as a resident in 1810.[5]

Edward Pegram

The 1786 Census of North Carolina includes an “Edward Pegrom” residing in Warren county North Carolina[6].  The 1790 Federal Census records “Edwd Pegram” residing in Warren North Carolina[7].  So perhaps neither Vines nor Edward were resident in Virginia when the 1789 case was heard.

Stephen Pettypool

There are multiple candidates for the Stephen Pettypool of the 1789 court case.

Stephen, son of John Pettypool (1725 VA – 1803 NC) and Sarah.  Stephen was granted land in Granville county NC in 1805[8].

Stephen Pettypool, son of William Pettypool (1747- 1813) and Sarah.

Stephen P Pool Jr is enumerated in the 1830 Federal Census as a 60-69 year old in Dinwiddie county, Virginia[9].

[1] Judith McGhan, “Virginia Will Records” (Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2008). Section: Records of Dinwiddie County –Abstracts 1789, 1790. Ancestry.com, Provo, UT, USA. Web: www.ancestry.com.

[2] Images reproduced by FamilySearch, “1810 United States Federal Census” (Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010). Year: 1800; Census Place: Hallifax, Northampton, North Carolina; Series: M32; Roll: 34; Page: 469; Image: 115; Family History Library Film: 337910: family of Anderson Pettipool.

[3] Images reproduced by FamilySearch, “1810 United States Federal Census” (Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010). Year: 1810; Census Place: Greensville, Virginia; Roll: 68; Page: 454; Image: 00868; Family History Library Film: 0181428:  family of Anderson Pettypool.

[4] “Virginia Marriages, 1785-1940” (Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City 17 March 2020).
Family Search Website. Web: familysearch.org.

[5] Ancestry.com. U.S. Census Reconstructed Records, 1660-1820 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011; Territorial Papers of the US; Volume Number: Vol 6; Page Number: 467; Family Number: 10.

[6] Ancestry.com. North Carolina, Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index, 1790-1890 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 1999;  Jackson, Ron V., Accelerated Indexing Systems, comp.. North Carolina Census, 1790-1890. Compiled and digitized by Mr. Jackson and AIS from microfilmed schedules of the U.S. Federal Decennial Census, territorial/state censuses, and/or census substitutes.

[7] Ancestry.com. 1790 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Images reproduced by FamilySearch; Year: 1790; Census Place: Warren, North Carolina; Series: M637; Roll: 7; Page: 78; Image: 56; Family History Library Film: 0568147.

[8] Ancestry.com, Provo, UT, USA.  Web: www.ancestry.com. “North Carolina, Land Grant Files, 1693-1960” (Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2016).  No. 1609 Stephen Petty Pool.

[9] Ancestry.com. 1830 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010; 1830; Census Place: Dinwiddie, Dinwiddie, Virginia; Series: M19; Roll: 196; Page: 389; Family History Library Film: 0029675.

This Indenture…Between John Howell of St. Paul’s Parish and Province of Georgia … and Peter Patty Pool of Tryon County and Province of North Carolina

James F Poole

Some years ago, when Carolyn Hartsough was researching her paper on Peter Pettypool, I managed to track down a very poor quality film of this particular land transaction. Carolyn was able to decipher the almost illegible script and made the transcription below. My thanks to Larry Hartsough for retrieving this copy.  You can read more about Peter at http://www.pettypool.com/America/Peter/Peter.html

It is worth noting that this property was in South Carolina, not Tryon county, North Carolina as described. At this time, the border between North and South Carolina was in a state of flux, and Tryon county North Carolina covered much of north western South Carolina on North Carolina maps. Continue reading “This Indenture…Between John Howell of St. Paul’s Parish and Province of Georgia … and Peter Patty Pool of Tryon County and Province of North Carolina” →

How to Research Your Pettypool Ancestry Using DNA

James F Poole

The Pettypool Y DNA Project

If you are male, or a female with access to a male relative’s DNA, you can select a 37 marker Y DNA test at Family Tree DNA (FTDNA).  This test is relatively inexpensive but sufficiently precise to determine if you are likely to be positive for known Pettypool DNA Short Tandem Repeat (STR) patterns, or not.  You can find an explanation of STR tests at the FTDNA website Learning Center.  When you receive the results of your test, FTDNA will notify members of the Pettypool project that your result matches theirs, and one of the administrators will contact you with an invitation to join the Pettypool project.

The 37 marker STR test is an inexpensive basic test to verify potential Pettypool ancestry.  However, much more extensive tests are available that will more precisely place you in the Pettypool family tree.  The project administrators or other members can help you select any additional tests.  In addition, you will have access to other project members, with the possibility that you can learn more about your family or help other members with your knowledge.  There is a private discussion group on Facebook which has valuable discussion about Pettypool family DNA.  An administrator will issue you an invitation to join the Facebook group when you join the FTDNA project.

What if I Don’t have Male DNA?

The Pettypool Project was begun as a Y DNA project, and that is still the primary focus.  But we have members who are descended from female Pettypools, and some of them have Maternal Lineage mtDNA results to share.  You can find out more about this DNA test at the FTDNA’s website Learning Center.

And almost all members have also done a Family Finder test or have transferred the equivalent test from Ancestry.com or other DNA test organization.  Working with other Project member’s FF results can advance your research without a Y chromosome test result.  You can find out more about Family Finder testing at FTDNA’s Learning Center.

The Paper Trail

The ultimate purpose of the Pettypool Project is to verify, correct, and expand the genealogy of the Pettypool family.  The most current record of the family’s history as derived from historical records is at the Pettypool Family One-Name Study website.  We are a member of the world-wide surname research organization the Guild of One-Name Studies as well.

The Big Picture- the Human Family Tree

If you have a Pettypool Y chromosome result, then you should consider joining these two DNA projects as well: R SRY2627/Z198/L176 and R DF27 and Subclades.  These projects are researching the ancient relationship of Pettypools with many other surname groups.

Mattie Bobo Poole (1900- 1924)

James F Poole

Mattie Bobo Poole was born Saturday 17 March 1900 to Thomas Pitts Poole and Jemmie Elizabeth Alexander. She was the eighth, and final, surviving child born to Thomas and Jemmie.1

The 14 April 1915 edition of the Laurens Advertiser reported on the “successful individual contestants in several departments of the county fair Friday”. Listed in the School Work category was “Booklet- Mattie Bobo Poole Sandy Spring.”2

The 8 November 1916 edition of the Laurens Advertiser reported that they were “sorry to learn that Miss Mattie Bobo Poole is sick with pneumonia”. She had recovered fully by summer, and when the 25 July 1917 edition of the Laurens Advertiser reported the activities of a “Sabbath School Convention” to which the local churches sent delegates, Mattie and her eldest brother Martin were the two delegates from Langston Baptist church. In addition, at the close of the convention, Mattie was selected as the “superintendent of elementary work in the district” for the coming year.3 Continue reading “Mattie Bobo Poole (1900- 1924)” →

The Elusive George Pool

James F Poole

The Census of 1790 and 1800 enumerate a George Pool living in Spartanburg county, South Carolina. Using the Census age brackets, he was born before 1774.1 The family in 1800 consisted of one male age under 10 years, one male age 26-44 (presumably George) and four females age less than 10 years, one female age 10-15, and one female 26- 44 (presumably the spouse).

George Pool of Spartanburg does not appear in the Census of 1810 or 1820, at least in Spartanburg or Laurens counties. The next appearance of a George Pool is in the 1830 Census, in Laurens county, South Carolina.2 While it is tempting to connect the two, I do not believe that there is sufficient circumstantial evidence to support a connection. Continue reading “The Elusive George Pool” →

Seth Pool, Junior

James F Poole

We first suspect that there were two men named “Seth Pool” in the Laurens county area in the early 1800’s while examining the 1819 Probate papers of Robert Pool.1 In the sales papers are references to sales to “Seth Pool” and a sale to “William Pool for Seth Pool”. This suspicion is confirmed in the 1822 Probate papers of William Petty Pool, when sales are noted to both “Seth Pool” and “Seth Pool Sen’r”.2 Continue reading “Seth Pool, Junior” →

Elizabeth R. Poole

James F Poole

As with her brother John Belton Poole,  tradition describes Elizabeth as the daughter of Robert Pool and a granddaughter of Seth Petty Pool (c. 1754- 1837) of Laurens county, South Carolina.  This tradition is recorded in the book- Bessie P. Lamb, Mary-Mack Poole Ezell, A Genealogical History of the Poole, Langston, Mason Families and Kindred Line of Upper South Carolina, 1931- on page 12:

(2) Robert Poole and His Children:  Robert Poole son of (1) Seth Poole, married Elizabeth Davis…. His children were (3) Belton (1816-) and (3) Elizabeth R. (Sept. 17, 1818).

To date, no independent confirmation of this linage has been found.  The children of Seth Petty Pool (d. 1837) were not fully enumerated, and Robert Pool has been found only in scattered citations from 1810 through 1815;  has not been reliably located in any Census; and his probate in 18191 does not list any family members.

Elizabeth was born 9 March, 1817.2  Sometime before 1840, she married William H. Fowler.3

Continue reading “Elizabeth R. Poole” →

John Belton Poole

James F Poole

By tradition, Belton Poole is the son of Robert Pool and a grandson of Seth Petty Pool (c. 1754- 1837) of Laurens county, South Carolina. This tradition is recorded in the book- Bessie P. Lamb, Mary-Mack Poole Ezell, A GenealogicaL History of the Poole, Langston, Mason Families and Kindred Line of Upper South Carolina, 1931, on page 12:

(2) Robert Poole and His Children: Robert Poole son of (1) Seth Poole, married Elizabeth Davis…. His children were (3) Belton (1816-) and (3) Elizabeth R. (Sept. 17, 1818).

To date, no independent confirmation of this linage has been found. The children of Seth Petty Pool (d. 1837) were not fully enumerated, and Robert Pool has been found only in scattered citations from 1810 through 1815; has not been reliably located in any Census; and his probate in 1819 1 does not list any family members.

Continue reading “John Belton Poole” →

Joshua Craig Poole

James F Poole

Joshua Craig Poole was born on 27 Jun 1898 in the Scuffletown township, Laurens county, South Carolina, the seventh surviving child of Thomas Pitts Poole (1861-1926) and Jemmie Elizabeth Alexander (1861-1937). 1

On 12 September 1918 Josh was required to register for the World War I draft. He reported his occupation as farmer, living at Rte 2, Laurens. The registrar reported him to be of medium build, with brown eyes and red hair.2

The 1920 Census enumerates Joshua as a farm laborer, living with his parents in Scuffletown, along with his elder brother Martin and younger sister Mattie Bobo.3 Continue reading “Joshua Craig Poole” →