Benjamin Pendleton
(1784-1856)
by Becky Dixon-Messier
My 4th Great Grandfather
April 18, 2001
From records found by
Becky Dixon-Messier and Bob Prater
Benjamin Pendleton was born about 1784 prob. in Amherst Co. VA. He is one of two known sons born to Edmund Pendleton and his wife Margaret. I have found no marriage licence for Edmund and Margaret, although in Russell Co., VA I have found deeds1 for Edmund and Margaret Pendleton. It is believed that Edmund Pendleton move to Kentucky before he moved to Tennessee although no record has been found.
In the "Life & Ancestry of George C. Pendleton" 2 George C. Pendleton states "Grandfather (Benjamin) Pendleton was a soldier in the War of 1812 and was with Harrison at the Battle of the Thames." I had written the National Archives for the military records for Benjamin Pendleton. The archives were searched Dec. 22, 2000 and I received a reply that no military records were found for a Benjamin Pendleton born abt. 1784 in Amherst County, Virginia and lived in Warren County, Tennessee. ( I still have the pension and bounty-land warrant applications to search)
If Benjamin served with General William Henry Harrison at the Battle of the Thames, he would have been living in Warren County, Tennessee at the time of his service. The Battle of the Thames, which was fought north of Lake Erie, took place on October 5, 1813.
I did do a reach in the Tennessee Archives and found the following information. Benjamin is listed on a muster roll for Tennessee. He served in a regiment commanded by Col. Stephen Copeland and was in a company led by Captain William Douglass.3
Benjamin and John Pendleton were living in Warren County, TN by the year 1812 as they are both listed in the tax list for 1812 as inhabitants in the return by Alexander Hill, Esqure. Also listed is Gabriel Elkins the father of Ann Elkins Brown who married Benjamin Pendleton about 1814 in Warren County, TN though no married records has been found.
Benjamin and John Pendleton are listed in the 1820 census for Warren County, TN.
From a deed that Benjamin witnessed for his brother, John, in 1827 we find out the Benjamin could not read or write. Benjamin signed his name with his mark.
Benjamin bought 12 acres of land in the year 1825. The land was surveyed 10 Jan 1825. This piece of land was on the waters of Stones River and on Hills Creek, South bank of Hills Creek.4 On 10 Jan 1826 Benjamin bought another 50 acres on the waters of Stones River on Hills Creek. This 50 acres was adjoined to the Southeast corner of the 25 acres belonging to said Pendleton.5
In a deed dated 15 Nov. 18286, Benjamin bought 200 acres of land for $600 on the east fork of Stones River on Thomas Creek (now Parchcorn Creek) from Archibald (Archelaus) Prater.7 This transaction was discussed in the book "History of Cannon County, Tennessee" by Robert L. Manson. Mr. Mason states that Archelus acquired four tracts of Land on Parchcorn Creek on the headwaters of Stones River between 1814 and 1828. He then states that Archelus built a grist mill on a 8-acre tract of land about 1816.8 Archelus Prater, at the age of 62, sold the 200 acres of land on the East fork of Stones River, including the house and mill where Benjamin Pendleton lives. It is this part of Warren Co., TN which became part of Cannon Co., TN in 1836.
When the census was taken in 1830, Benjamin and his brother John again are listed in the census for Warren Co., TN. When Cannon Co. was formed in 1836 Benjamin and John were some of the first settlers of Cannon Co. TN. They were both still living in Cannon Co., TN when the 1840 census was taken for the year.
Benjamin Pendleton, according to Mr. Mason, sold the mill and 153 acres to Edmund Pendleton, his son. Then in 1847 Edmund Pendleton sold the land and the mill to John D. Elkins. John D. Elkins was the son of Thomas Elkins, brother of Ann Elkins Brown Pendleton, Benjamin Pendleton's wife. The mill was still in operation in 1900 and owned by Booker Elkins and although the mill was still standing in 1920 it was no longer in operation.
I have not been able to find Benjamin in the 1850 census. He and his family may have been enroute to Greene/Christian Co., MO when the census was taken. George C. Pendleton in his papers states that Benjamin arrived in the part Greene Co., MO, which is now Christian Co., about 1851.
I do not know the exact date of death for Benjamin but it was before Dec. 5, 1856. This is known from papers his son, Thomas Dillard Pendleton, filed in Greene Co. MO. "Letters of Administrations were issued on 5 December 1856 to Thomas Pendleton for the estate of Benjamin Pendleton. Bond was given by Thomas D. Pendleton, A.A. Pendleton and C. Roberts".9
Benjamin's wife Ann Elkins Brown Pendleton was still living in 1860 when the census was taken for Christian Co., MO. She is listed in the household of Dillard Pendleton. Ann was 66 years old when the census was taken that year. Again the exact date for her death is unknown. No record could be found in the Christian Co. 1870 census for Ann. The burial place for Benjamin and Ann is unknown but it is probably in Christian Co., MO.
1. Russell Co., VA, 1800, Deed Book 3 Grantor Index
2.George Cassety Pendleton (1845-1913), written April 3, 1912.
3. TSLA--Microfilm roll #1459, Volume 3, Pgs. 290-292
4. Warren Co., TN: Plat Book Vol 1 Page 84
5. Warren Co., TN: Plat Book Vol 1 Page 324 Entry 1393 (Changed to 1394)
6. Bob Prater, 3rd great grandson of Archelaus Prater
7. Warren Co., TN: Deed Book Q pp 242-243
8.Goodspeed's Histories of Cannon County, 1972 reprint of an 1887 edition,
states that Archelus' mill on a branch of Stone River was built in "about
1820"
9.Greene Co. Probate Records, Will Book A:68
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