The Newell family is part of Harold Hawes' ancestry as shown in the lineage below, which includes two brothers, Robert and Hugh, who came with their siblings to America in the mid 1700s.
The research really began with identifying the father of James Newell, grandfather of Christina (Newell) Duncan. Most online genealogies claim his father's name is "Hugh", but it became clear quickly there were multiple Hugh Newells that seem frequently mixed in the various sites, two of which lived in townships near Pittsburgh, PA where James Newell was born in 1785.
Once it was identified that James Newell married his 1st cousin Mary Newell, whose father was Robert Newell, the research led to a story repeated on multiple sites about a group of siblings who came from Ireland to Pennsylvania - James, Robert, Hugh, Margaret, and Jane Newell. Based on research, there is another probable sister, Mary Newell, possibly born in America after the family arrived from Ireland.
The identity of the parents of these siblings is still disputed. Some claim the father is Hugh O'Neill, born in Shane's Castle in County Down, Ireland, and being 3rd in line to inherit, chose to go to America. Another story lists a Hugh O'Neill as a "felon" to be deported in 1740, changing his surname on arrival to avoid detection. Equally disputed (or simply confused) is the identity of Hugh O'Neill's wife. Some sites list his wife as Anne Cox, though most of those have them settling in Delaware. Other sites, those most commonly associated with the siblings, name his wife as Elizabeth Trvax/Truax. This gets more complicated though by sites that list Hugh "Newell" and Elizabeth Truax settling in Monmouth Co., NJ. The research below shows our ancestors were never in New Jersey.
The "proof" of the siblings' parents is too confusing and disputed to claim any accuracy yet. However the evidence does point to a group of siblings who came first to Pennsylvania, then migrated in different groups and times to Ohio, Kentucky, Illinois, and Iowa. The evidence linking these siblings - James, Robert, Hugh, Jane, and Mary - is outlined below. Interestingly enough, Margaret is mentioned as a sibling in all the stories, yet I was unable to find any additional evidence.
Robert and Hugh Newell are our direct ancestors, and the marriage of their children Mary and James, respectively, is strong evidence in and of itself that they were brothers. A presentation of various evidence in a timeline further confirms this relationship:
1785 - James Newell is born in Westmoreland County, PA.
1786 - Robert and Hugh Newell both appear in the Septennial Census (tax list) for the South District of Huntington, Westmoreland County, PA.
Sometime prior to 1800, Robert and Hugh Newell migrate with their families to Harrison County, Kentucky. The reason is most likely because their sister Mary Newell (see evidence below) had moved there earlier with her husband, Benjamin Harrison, for whom the county was named.
Several marriages of Robert and Hugh's children occur in Harrison County:
1799 - William (son of Hugh) marries Isabel Lindsey.
1800 - Martha (daughter of Hugh) marries Godfrey Van Deren. The marriage bond is co-signed by Hugh.
1802 - Margaret (daughter of Hugh) marries John Van Deren. The marriage bond is co-signed by Hugh.
1803 - William (son of Robert) marries Elizabeth "Betsy" Shields.
1806 - James (son of Hugh) marries Mary (daughter of Robert). The marriage bond is co-signed by Robert.
1809 - Jenny marries John Schooler, and Ann marries Robert Craig. Both are daughters of Hugh.
1810 - Robert appears in the census for Harrison County, as does James (son of Hugh). Hugh does not appear in readable portions of the census, but the pages are badly damaged. Also appearing is James Duncan, whose son Asahel "Asa" will eventually marry James Newell's daughter Christina. These are the parents of Elizabeth (Duncan) Hawes, Harold Hawes' paternal grandmother.
Sometime prior to 1801, Hugh's wife, who most sites name "Elizabeth", died. He next married Sarah Van Deren (nee Murray), widow of Bernard Van Deren. Bernard and Sarah are the parents of Godfrey and John Van Deren who married Hugh's daughters Martha and Margaret Newell. Hugh and Sarah had no children together. Some evidence suggests Hugh was named guardian of at least one of Bernard and Sarah's children.
In 1814, Robert moves to Logan County, Ohio with his family and several of his sons and their families. This is not evidence linking Robert and Hugh, but it does support a linkage later between Robert and James.
Hugh and his son James appear in the 1820 census for Harrison County. Sometime prior to 1830, James Newell moves his family to Vermilion County, Illinois, along with his older brother William and family, and probably other siblings as well. Also moving to Vermilion County around the same time is the family of James Duncan.
Hugh Newell does not appear anywhere in an 1830 census. It is presumed he died prior to 1830, probably in Harrison County, KY.
Mary is never mentioned in the stories as one of the siblings that came from Ireland together. However it's clear from the evidence that Robert and Hugh knew Mary well. And given the linkage between Mary and Jane as sisters (below), it's very likely they were all siblings.
Several sites list Mary being born in Virginia around 1755. This initially ruled out Mary as a sibling until reading about a boundary dispute between Virginia and Pennsylvania around that same time. From 1681 to 1863, the southwestern corner of Pennsylvania, which currently borders West Virginia, was shared with Virginia. The exact border ranged as far in both directions over this period that it's possible the area where Mary was born at the time was considered by many part of Virginia instead of Pennsylvania.
Mary married Benjamin Harrison, also from "Virginia". This is not the same Harrison line of Harold Hawes' mother Laura Allen that holds Col. Benjamin Harrison of Rockingham County. If they are related, I have not made the connection yet. However this Benjamin Harrison also had a distinguished military career. He served under Gen. Andrew Lewis at the battle of Point Pleasant in 1774, and held a Captain's commission in the Continental Army. He also wrote parts of the Kentucky Constitution.
Benjamin and Mary moved to Kentucky around 1785. Along the way, they stopped in Ohio near Wheeling. Whether due to illness or threat from native Americans, they left their young son Batteal in the care of "Aunt and Uncle" Jane (Newell) Vance and William Vance, who raised him to adulthood. This is clear evidence that Mary and Jane Newell were sisters.
According to the book "Past and Present of Saline County, Missouri", Benjamin Harrison "located at Cynthiana, where he built a mill and became so conspicuous that a county (Harrison) was named after him." At some point, Benjamin and Mary moved to Missouri where Benjamin died in 1808.
At a deposition in 1812 in front of the Justice of the Peace of Harrison County, Kentucky, Robert and Hugh Newell verified they were "well acquainted with Benjamin Harrison, deceased, from time of his marriage, until his death." Given this acknowledgment by Robert and Hugh of acquaintance with Benjamin and Mary, and their own migrations to Harrison County, Kentucky prior to 1800, it seems very likely Mary was a sister of Robert and Hugh. This then also links Robert and Hugh to Jane (Newell) Vance as siblings.
The linkage from James to the other siblings is arguably the weakest, but it is still compelling. James was the first to leave Pennsylvania, though he didn't go far! He and his wife Margaret/Mary Sparks (sites vary in which given name is correct) migrated in 1778 to Ohio near Wheeling in what is now Jefferson County, a distance of only around 80 miles from the area around Pittsburgh where the siblings first settled.
This is where it gets a little tricky to follow. James had a son Thomas(1) who moved in 1839 with his family, including his son Robert F., to Louisa County, Iowa. James' brother Robert also had a son Thomas(2), who had a son Thomas(3 - keeping up with all the Thomases so far?), who moved in 1840 to Louisa County, Iowa. Robert had another son Hugh, who's daughter Christina also moved to Louisa County, probably along with her cousin Thomas(3). In 1843, Robert F. Newell (Thomas(1) > James) married Christina Newell (Hugh > Robert) in Iowa. Visually, it looks like this:
None of this is proof, but the timing and proximity of their descendants migrating to Iowa makes it likely that James and Robert were brothers, and Robert F. and Christina were 2nd cousins.
Based on the information above, it seems evident that James, Robert, Hugh, Jane, and Mary Newell were siblings. What is interesting about William and Jane (Newell) Vance is that despite several sources describing their relationship in raising their nephew Batteal Harrison, I was not able to find any evidence of children of their own. There are several Vances in both Pennsylvania and Ohio, including some sites that mention William's marriage to Jane. There is even a Vance Memorial Church/Chapel in Wheeling, WV, built by Joseph Nelson Vance for his parents. But I haven't been able to connect these Vances yet.
The family groups for each sibling are below, as well as groups for several of their descendants. In the family groups, there are occasional notes about certain individuals. As I discover more about their descendants, I will add to this page.
Parents of Robert and Hugh Newell
Many sites list the parents as "Hugh Newell and Elizabeth Truax/Trvax". However several sites have a Hugh Newell and Elizabeth Truax with burials in Monmouth County, New Jersey. Based on all the information I have, our ancestors were never in New Jersey.
Children:
+ James (1739/1740 - 1794); m. Margaret/Mary Sparks+ Robert (1741 - 1829); m. Christina Williams+ Hugh (1743 - ca. 1820s); m. 1) 1771 Elizabeth ?, 2) ca. 1801 widow Sarah Vanderen/Van Deren (nee Murray)+ Jane; m. William Vance- Margaret- I have been unable to find further information about Margaret. She is always included amongst the siblings of Robert and Hugh who came from Ireland.+ Mary (1755 - 1812); m. Benjamin HarrisonJames Newell and Margaret/Mary Sparks
James Newell (Hugh O'Neill): b. 1739/1740, Ireland; d. 1794
Margaret/Mary Sparks: ?; parents Charles and Margaret Sparks
Married: ?
Children:
- Robert (1764 - 1838); m. 1790 Cassie Hardesty (1770 - 1818)- Children: Absolom (1790 - ?); Francis Hardesty (1794 - ?); Mary Polly (1794 - ?); Ruth Reecy (1798 - ?); Samuel (1800 - ?); Zachariah (1801 - ?); Cassa Catherine (1803 - ?); Jesse (1812 - 1881)- John (1765 - 1802); m. Rachel Mathews (1775 - 1802)- Jane (? - ? OH); m. Davison McWilliams- Samuel (1766 - 1842 OH); m. "Miss Polk"- Thomas (1783 - 1858); m. Harriet Flaharty (1789 - 1846)- Children: James (1809 - 1875); Mary E. (1811 - 1867); Margaret B. (1813 - 1871); Sem (1815 - 1869); Thomas (1816 - 1858); Robert Flaharty (1818 - 1898), m. Christina Newell (2nd cousins, daughter of Hugh Newell and Elizabeth McNay)- Charles (single)- Margaret (? - 1849 IA); m. 1) Orestus Clark, 2) John Williamson- Mary (? - ? IA); m. Stockton BriggsRobert Newell and Christina Williams
Robert Newell (Hugh O'Neill): b. ca. 1741, County Down, Ireland; d. 1829, Muddy Run, West Liberty, Logan Co., OH
Christina Williams: b. ca. 1748, possibly in Germany
Married: Possibly ca. 1775
Children:
- Jane (1775 - 1810); m. Robert Braden- Thomas (1776 - 1824); m. Rosanna Mcelhenay (? - 1839)- Thomas served in the War of 1812- Children: Jane, m. James M. Barker; George; Robert; Catherine m. Wilkeson Diltz; Stephen; Feliz; Andrew; Sarah, m. Moses Gallespie; Thomas, m. Sarah Jane Mock- William (1777 - 1843); m. 1803 Elizabeth "Betsy" Shields- Hugh (1782 - 1855); m. 1809 Elizabeth McNay- Children: Christina, m. Robert Newell (2nd cousins, son of Thomas Newell and Harriet Flaharty)+ Mary (1785 - ?); m. 1806 James Newell (1st cousins)- Samuel (1789 - 1843 IA); m. 1806 Nancy Alexander- Robert (never married)- John; m. 1816 Martha Crockett- Margaret (1792 - ?); m. 1819 Oren HubbardHugh Newell and Elizabeth
Hugh Newell (Hugh O'Neill): b. ca. 1743, County Down, Ireland; d. bef. 1830
Elizabeth ?: (no evidence so far of her actual name)
Married: ca. 1771
Children:
+ William (~1775 - 1831); m. 1799 Isabel Lindsey- Martha "Mattie" (1778 - 1823); m. 24 Mar 1800 Godfrey Vanderen/Van Deren, Harrison Co., KY- Children: Godfrey Bernard (1800 - 1882), m. Rachael Caldwell; Elizabeth (1802 - 1841), m. William Thornton Turner; Hugh (1805 - 1889); Sarah (1807 - ?), m. Hugh Newell (1st cousins, son of William Newell and Isabel Lindsey); Newell (1809 - 1859); Milton (1811 - 1843); Delilah (1813 - 1889), m. Enoch Craigmyle; Emily Jane (1815 - 1880), m. William Craig (1st cousins, son of Ann Newell and Robert Craig); Mary Ann (1817 - 1902), m. James Washington Craigmyle; William (1823 - 1904), m. Mary E. Musselman- Ann (1780 - 1840, possible twin of Jane/Jenny?); m. 1 Jan 1801 Robert Craig- Moved to Montgomery Co., IN- Children: Elizabeth (1801 - 1836), m. John Brockman; William (1803 - 1885), m. Emily Jane Van Deren (1st cousins, daughter of Martha Newell and Godfrey Van Deren); Hugh Newell (1806 - 1840), m. Lucy Brockman; Hannah M. (1810 - 1851), m. Peter Vannice; John Y. (1812 - 1888), m. Elizabeth Peoples; Samuel N. (1814 - 1874), m. Charity Grater; Robert Campbell (1819 - 1884), m. Mary Elizabeth Downing- Jane/Jenny (1780 - 1857, possible twin of Ann?); m. 1809 John Schooler- Children: Hugh Newell (1812 - 1860), m. 1) 1832 Elizabeth Ventioner, 2) 1836 Susannah E. Peebles; William Harrison (1814 - 1910), m. 1834 Charity Vannice- Robert (ca. 1781 - ?)- Margaret (1784 - 1879); m. 1802 John Vanderen/Van Deren- Children: Elizabeth (1806 - 1873), m. James Hudelson; John (1812 - 1847); Sarah Jane (1819 - 1849), m. Alanson Tyler+ James (1785 - 1846); m. 1806 Mary Newell (1st cousins)- Hugh (1793 - 1875); m. 1814 Sarah Blair- Children: Hannah (1821 - 1880), m. Americus CraigmyleNotes:
- Hugh's 2nd marriage was ca. 1801 to widow Sarah Vanderen/Van Deren (nee Murray), the mother of Godfrey Van Deren (who married Hugh's daughter Martha) and John Van Deren (who married Hugh's daughter Margaret). They had no children together. One site says Hugh became guardian of at least one child of Sarah and her first husband, Bernard Van Deren.- Hugh does not appear on census records in 1830. It is assumed he died before 1830.William Vance and Jane Newell
William Vance
Jane Newell (Hugh O'Neill)
Notes:
- William and Jane moved to Ohio near Wheeling, WV some time prior to 1875.- I have been unable to find any children born to William and Jane Newell.- William and Jane raised their nephew Batteal Harrison, son of Benjamin Harrison and Mary Newell.- Per one site referencing a book by William Harrison called "A Partial History of the Harrison Family", Batteal and his Uncle William built a mill in "Ming's Bottom" in Belmont Co., OH.Benjamin Harrison and Mary Newell
Capt. Benjamin Harrison: b. 1750 Orange Co., VA; d. 1808 Crawford Co., MO; parents Lawrence Harrison and Catherine Marmaduke
Mary Newell (Hugh O'Neill): b. 1755 (location ?); d. 1812 Crawford Co., MO
Married: ?
Children:
- Batteal (1780 - 1857); m. Elizabeth Scott- Raised by his aunt and uncle William and Jane (Newell) Vance in Ohio near Wheeling, WV- Batteal Harrison had a distinguished military career, serving in the War of 1812, and attaining the rank of Brig. General.- Children: Annetta, Batteal, Vance, Job V., Elizabeth, William, Belle, John and Jim Cook- Mary (1781 - 1873 MO); m. Josiah Reeves (1782 - 1860 MO)- Children: George Washington (1808 - 1863), m. 1829 Margaret Mary Reed; Mary (1811 - 1852), m. 1) William Reed, 2) Elias Matlock; Nathaniel B. (1827 - 1880), m. 1849 Sarah Caroline Payne.- William H. (1781 - 1867 MO); m. Nancy Ann Miller (1783 - 1867)- Children: Alexander (1798 - 1849), m. 1) 1835 Nancy Moxley, 2) 1840 Susan D. Covington (1821 - 1885); Benjamin (1800 - 1874), m. Jane G. Frazier (1804 - 1883); Hugh (1802 - 1877), m. Della ? (1808 - 1894); Batteal (1808 - 1873), m. Ellen D. Twittey (1816 - 1864); John Miller (1812 - 1890), m. Nancy ? (1818 - 1889)- Julius- Jane "Jenny"; m. 1795 William Hinkson- William served in the War of 1812- Children: Margaret, m. Noah Martin- Catherine; m. Andrew Miller- Aristides/AristhedesWilliam Newell and Isabel Lindsey
William Newell (Hugh > Hugh O'Neill): b. ca. 1775; d. 3 Jan 1831, Vermilion Co., IL
Isabel Lindsey: b. ca. 1779; d. 25 May 1831, Vermilion Co., IL; father David Lindsey Sr.
Married: 9 Dec 1799, Harrison Co., KY
Children:
- Hugh (ca. 1800 - ?); m. 1822 Sara Van Deren (1st cousins, daughter of Martha Newell and Godfrey Van Deren)- Children: Martha Jane, m. David Makemson; William, m. Nancy P. Osborn; Lizzie; George; Sarah Frances, m. William Thomas Makemson- Rebecca (1806 - 1882), m. 1823 John LeNeveJames Newell and Mary Newell
James Newell (Hugh > Hugh O'Neill): b. 25 Sep 1785, Westmoreland Co., PA; d. 25 Oct 1846, Vermilion Co., IL
Mary Newell (Robert > Hugh O'Neill): b. ca 1785
Married: 22 Sep 1806, Harrison Co., KY
Children:
+ Christina (1807 - 1847); m. 1826 Asahel "Asa" Duncan- Elizabeth; b. 17 Jul 1811; d. 11 May 1856; m. 8/9 Apr 1832 Ambrose Philip Andrews- Children: Alice Margaret (? - 1851); Hannah Amelia (1834 - 1923); Austin Spencer (1835 - 1917), m. 1867 Eliza Jane Clark; Sophia (1838 - 1925); James O. (1840 - 1927), m. Araminta E. ?- Margaret; b. ca 1817; m. 2 Apr 1837 Darius Duncan (brother of Asa Duncan)- Darius married 2) 1843 Mary Ann Caldwell. Margaret must have died prior to this.- Children: Calvin D. (1836 - ?); Frances Ann (1838 - ?); Samuel (1840 - 1893), m. 1869 Eldora McDoel; Minerva M. (1842 - ?); John Wilson (1846 - 1924), m. 1) 1865 Nancy A. Price, 2) Ella Fairchild Starr- Emily; b. 29 Sep 1824; d. 7 Jan 1884; m. 17 Oct 1848 William Irvin Allen- Children: Hugh (ca. 1849 - ?); Charles Asaph (1851 - 1925), m. 1878 Mary A. Thompson; Mary I. (1853 - 1928 SD), m. Thomas VanBrunt; Emily "Emma" Newell (1857 - 1949); Klimene (1861 - 1946 CA), m. ? Korner; Martha Ann (ca. 1863 - 1888)Notes:
James Newell was an early pioneer and was the first Justice of the Peace of Vermilion County, Illinois. Both Newell Township and Newell Cemetery are named after him. Per his FindAGrave memorial, "At one time, he owned most of the land in Newell township".Asahel Duncan and Christina Newell
Asahel "Asa" Duncan: b. 3 Sep 1803, Harrison Co., KY; d. 1 Aug 1872, Vermilion Co., IL
Christina Newell (James > Hugh > Hugh O'Neill): b. 5 Jun 1807, Harrison Co., KY; d. 3 Apr 1847, Vermilion Co., IL
Married: 1 Oct 1826, Harrison Co., KY
Children:
- Newell (1829 - 1860); m. 1) 1852 Mary Jane Starry, 2) 1868 Mary J. Bratton (nee Ashmore?)- Edward (1832 - 1896); m. Esther Elliott- Benjamin Franklin (1835 - 1918); m. 1866 Martha Ellen "Mattie" Drake- Ellen (1838 - ?)- Elizabeth "Lizzie" (1839 - 1922); m. 1859 John V. Hawes- Mary (1840 - ?)- James A. (1844 - 1921); m. Adeline CampbellI have detailed sources for each of the following resources. Email me for more information:
Robert Newell (1741 - 1829)
Hugh Newell (1743 - ca. 1820s)
James Newell (1785 - 1846), son of Hugh
In addition, the following provided good information:
"History of Logan County and Ohio: Containing a History of the State of Ohio, from Its Earliest Settlement to the Present Time ... a History of Logan County, Giving an Account of Its Aboriginal Inhabitants ... Biographical Sketches, Portraits of Some of the Early Settlers and Prominent Men, Etc", January 1, 1880, O.L. Baskin
"Portrait and Biographical Album of Louisa County, Iowa: Containing Full Page Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens of the County, Together with Portraits and Biographies of All the Governors of the State, and of the Presidents of the United States", January 1, 1889, Acme publishing Company
"Past and Present of Saline County, Missouri", William Barclay Napton January 1, 1910, B.F. Bowen, Publ.