Facts and Events
- Source:Maxwell History
Grey line marks Three Chopt Road, Dark grey line marks the Great Philadelphia Wagon Road.
From:Source:Maxwell History with minor reformating to improve clarity.
Bezaleel Maxwell, son of John, was born in Albemarle County, Virginia, near the home of Jefferson, and grew up with Jefferson, having at times the same masters for teachers. His early education and associations influenced his whole life, as is shown by the training of his family. He was especially interested in medicine and law, and gave his sons the opportunity to study along scientific lines, if they so desired. Although he was intensely patriotic, he had seen the horrors of war, and in the later years of his life he was a great advocate of peace. He advised the young men of his family to sell their land in Kentucky and remove to Indiana, in order to avoid a conflict over slavery, that he felt sure was to come. He freed his slaves before he removed to Indiana, but many of them followed him. and often as many as sixteen or twenty were in the cabins at one time. He owned a large farm near Hanover, Indiana, famous for its fine orchard and grove of sugar maples, where the young people of the neighborhood gathered at sugar-making time, for visits of several days. At such times it was the custom for the children to eat at the second table, which they considered a hardship. A grandson relates a plan they often resorted to to dull the pangs of hunger while the old "mammy" cooked the cakes for breakfast. Mammy kept the plate of cakes near an open window, and from time to time one of the children would reach in and get a few and take them to a seat behind the smokehouse, where the others waited with a bowl of maple
syrup, likewise purloined.
The chimney corner also deserves a place in pioneer history, as it was here that many of the youths of the family made their first entrance into the mysterious state of manhood via the first chew of tobacco or grandfather's pipe. Several of the family were musicians, and the hour of family worship, with the hymns carried in their different parts, and the impressive reading of the Word by the father, were long remembered by those who had been guests in this house. The part Bezaleel took in our country's history will be learned from the sketches given at the unveiling of the marker, commemorative of those services, and we who follow after certainly have a great and glorious heritage.
Margaret Anderson was born September 4, 1755. It is not possible to give her record in three dates. She was too pronounced a character to have left a vague impression. In her slight person she carried 1ittle spirit of her Scotch ancestors, that was the spirit of the martyrs. It was one that looked beyond the confines of the present time and space, and by faith had gleams of the eternal life beyond, of which this was but a foreshadowing. Quiet, austere, forceful and consecrated to what she felt to be duty, she was an embodiment of the spirit that lias lighted up the high places in history. Difficulties were not to be counted nor considered; she looked only to the achievement. The influence of modern unrest had not touched her to suggest doubt nor diversity. She looked with clear, untroubled vision to the accomplishing of a record that should receive "Well done." Self was forgotten, and almo>t the tenderness of domestic ties in the strict adherence to what she believed tbe duty. That was the keynote to her life. Three grandchildren living today (1914), all past ninety years of age, remember their grandmother and recall with tender smiles her rigid discipline where she was in authority. Tender interpretation was not this Spartan's reading of actions. One of the granddaughters narrated her grandmother's horror when she found her very small child sitting in her swing on Sabbath morning, and her memory is clear as to the threats of dire punishment. That a child should seek pleasure on a Sabbath day mortal sin, not to be condoned.
She was pre-eminently consistent. Even in the matter of dress then-could be found a spiritual significance. A granddaughter— Margaret Anderson Dunn— tells of her grandmother's always wearing on the Sabbath, when the communion service was observed, a heavy black silk dress. It was in the nature of a sacrifice— an offering of the best had. With all her earnestness and single-mindedness she was estiallv feminine, having the finest regard for a beautiful appearance. The story is still told of a habit of hers. When going out into the sunshine, if she had not gloves conveniently near, she would wrap her hands in her apron. She lectured the girls on their "duty" in caring tor their hair. "A woman's hair was her glory." Also on their moral obligation
to guard their complexions by wearing sunbonnets. "A beautiful was the gift of the Lord, and it was wrong not to take care ot it
Her character was a perfectly rounded out one. Strong in its Foundation, symmetrical in its proportions, and complete in its finest
About three miles southwest of Hanover, Indiana, may be seen in a fine state of preservation the imposing manor house of Bezaleel Maxwell, erected by him ninety-eight years ago, some two years after he came to the then Territory of Indiana from Scott County, Kentucky, with his family and several of his colored servants, some of whom he had previously manumitted. The new home, probably the finest of that time north of the Ohio River, was built of bricks manufactured from native clay tempered, moulded and burned upon his large landed property, and these bricks, of an uniform dark cherry-color, cemented with fine mortar, show no mark to this day of the tooth of time. The structure is of pure Colonial style — two stories and an attic, with two-storied front "galleries" supported by large Corinthian columns of stucco-covered brick (in later years replaced by a modern veranda). A spacious hall passing through the building from front to rear had doors of entrance on each side to the rooms of the ground floor and a typical Colonial staircase extended to the upper story rooms that were also divided by a similar hallway.
The attic was used as a storage room and therein also hung from the naked rafters the many strings of dried medicinal and kitchen "yarbs" in vogue for illness or savory cooking. There were ten living and sleeping rooms, having lofty ceilings and many windows with small glass panes for light and ventilation. The interior wood-work was mahogany, originally; but, many years after the home was finished this was replaced with polished white walnut, or "Butternut," an inferior wood to mahogany, yet having a beautiful grain. In cold weather the house was heated by spacious fireplaces, and these filled by the giant "back-logs" and "fore-sticks," when kindled gave not only much of the light but the necessary heat for cooking as well as physical comfort. The floors were laid in hard-wood, ash and maple, and constant scrubbing and waxing rendered them white and
On the east of the mansion stood and still stands in use the "springhouse," of stone, the repository of milk, cream, butter and home-made cheese, lard and other articles for table use that required to be kept cool through the summers. In the rear extended a line of comfortable cabins that were the quarters of the colored families who, freed by their old master, voluntarily came with him to the new home, and there were other frame buildings — barns, seed-houses, cribs, etc., usual to the operation of a large farm; but these have long ago disappeared througn decay or fire. A specialty of the establishment was the breeding of fine horses, and these animals were no doubt, one of the chief sources of profit to the owner.
Previous to the coming of the new proprietor there had stood a frontier fort, or stockaded block-house, upon the land, erected In pioneer families for protection against Indian forays and resorted to on even necessary occasion; but of this no vestige now remains.
From Source:Houston, et al. 1916 Maxwell history and genealogy
- p 34. October 1, 1793, Peter Taylor and wife, Nancy, for 175 pounds, conveyed to Bazaleel Maxwell 1,000 acres of land on Muddy Creek, about two miles east of Colonel Henderson's pre-emption.
- June 6, 1802, Bazaleel Maxwell and wife. Margaret, of Garrard County, Kentucky, for $533, conveyed to William Royston 245 acres on the East Fork of Otter Creek and waters of Muddy Creek, adjoining David Maxwell, James Butcher, William Royston, etc.
- September 29, 1809, Bazaleel Maxwell, of Garrard County, Kentucky, for $800, conveyed to Samuel Maxwell 275 acres on Otter and Muddy Creeks, adjoining Bezaleel Maxwell's 1,000 acres, Butcher, Volentine, Tudor, etc.
- "I, B. Maxwell, of the County of Jefferson, certify I was proper and lawful owner of a woman of color by the name of Eva Maxwell, and she has served me until she was of age, 18 years old, and that I have no further claim or demand on, or of her service, and that she is from me, my heirs or executors forever free from the claim or claims of all other persons whatsoever.. Bazaleel Maxwell." October, 1819. (Jefferson County, Indiana.)
On September 17, 1786, in Garrard County, Kentucky, there was born to Bazaleel Maxwell and his wife, Margaret Anderson, a son who was destined to become a factor in the formation and early development of one of the great States which was carved from the Northwest Territory.
Bazaleel Maxwell, with wife and small family, crossed the great "blue western wall," suffered the hardships of cold and encountered the dangers of the wilderness road, but finally leached that "fairest of promised lands, the delectable country Kaintuckee." It was under these skies, among rude surroundings and primitive conditions, that the child David saw the light of day.....
Louise Maxwell, Granddaughter [of David Maxwell].
From: Source:Summers, 1929
- p. 702, 24 march 1779, Admin of Estate of John Maxwell to Rebecca Maxwell and Bazaleel Maxwell
- p. 705---listed in index, but not on pag
From Rootsweb Maxwell List
Orange Co., N.C. Deed Bk, 3 P. 519 19 Aug. 1767
Maxwell to Walker
Bezaleel Maxwell of Albemarle County in Virginia of the one part
John Walker  of the county of Orange and province of North Carolina of the other part ...
in consideration of sum of sixty pounds current money of Virginia ...
two hundred seventy five acres situate lying & being on both sides of the Reedy (Hico?) Creek Beginning at a White Oak,
ite. ... Hugh Dobbins line ... Wit. James Long
DB B:123 - Power of attorney - Edward Maxwell of Caswell to Archd Murphey to demand and collect any money due in NC, to sell all
effects, and to convey deeds of land especially a tract on Reedy Fork N. Hico of 450 acres to Joseph Moore of State of VA. 11 Nov 1782. Wts: James Sanders, Charles Stevens, John Moore.
DB B:382 - Edward Maxwell of county of -----, state of GA, to Joseph Moore of Prince Edward County VA, for 100 lbs., 100 acres
on Hico Creek adj. Hugh McAden's old line, John James Farly. By Ad Murphey atty-in-fact. 31 Jun 1783. Wts: Josiah Cole, Betty
Cole, Mary W. Smith.
DB C:33 - Edward Maxwell of Caswell to Joseph Moore of Prince Edward County VA, for 20 lbs., 250 acres North Hico adj. McGhee.
05 Jan 1785. Wts: Josiah Cole, Robert Smith. A. Murphey, atty.
[Citing History of Buffalo Presbyterian Church and Her People, Greensboro, N. C., by Rev. S. M. Rankin; published by Jos. J. Stone & Co., Greensboro, NC (link:
This community was first settled by members of the Nottingham Colony, a company organized and formed in the bounds of the old
Nottingham Presbyterian Church at Rising Sun, Md. That church was in Lancaster County, Pa., when our ancestors left there, and until
the line between Maryland and Pennsylvania was changed in 1767. The Nottingham Company sent out agents and had surveyed and secured rights from Earl Granville to thirty-three plots or sections of six hundred and forty acres to the section, "lying and being on the waters of North Buffalo and Reedy Fork Creeks.
The above indicates a link between the settlers in North Buffalo-Reedy Creek areas of Orange County, NC
The land sold by John Walker of Orange County, to Bazaleel Maxwell was on the Reedy Creek. This John Walker is most likely JOhn Walker III of the Wigton Walker line, who is known to have been associated with the Nottingham MH Presbyterian Church at Rising Sun.
From: Albemarle County in VA, Internet Archive
The different Gentry families in Albemarle seem to have sprung from the same head. Nicholas Gentry died in 1779, leaving eleven children, Moses, David, Nicholas, Mary Hinson, Robert, Benajah, Nathan, Martin, Elizabeth Haggard, Jane Timberlake, and Ann Jenkins. Moses bought land in 1778 from Samuel Gay on the old Lynchburg Road north of Garland's Store. He was a ruling elder in the Cove Church. He died in 1810. His children were
Claiborne and Nicholas, who married sisters, Jane and Mary, daughters of Bezaleel Maxwell,
Frances, the wife of Thomas Fitzpatrick, and Joanna, the wife of Joseph Walters. Addison, a son of Nicholas, married I/Ucy, a sister of Shelton F. Leake.
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 International Genealogical Index. (LDS Church, 1999-2005).
- ↑ Lewis, Virgil A. History of the Battle of Point Pleasant: fought between white men and Indians at the mouth of the Great Kanawha River (now Point Pleasant, West Virginia), Monday, October 10th, 1774 : the chief event of the Lord Dunmore's War. (Charleston, W. Va: The Tribune Printing Company, 1909).
A List of Captain Evan Shelby’s Company of Volunteers From The Watauga Valley in The Fincastle County Battalion.
Evan Shelby, Captain - Assumed chief command on the field of battle after Colonels Lewis, Fleming, and Field had fallen.)
Isaac Shelby, Lieutenant - (Took command of his father's company, who had assumed command on the field.)
James Robertson, Sergeant
Valentine Levier (Sevier), Sergeant
James Shelby, John Sawyer, John Findley (Finley), Henry Shaw (Span), Daniel Mungle (Mongle), Frederick Mungle, John Williams, John Carmack (Wounded at Point Pleasant), Andrew Terrence (Torrence), George Brooks, Isaac Newland, George Ruddle (Riddle), Emanuel Shoatt, Abram Bogard, Arthur Blackburn, Robert Herrill (Handley), George Armstrong, William Casey, Mark Williams, John Stewart (Wounded at Point Pleasant), Conrad Nave, Richard Burck, John Riley, Elijah Robinson (Robertson), Reece Price (Wounded at Point Pleasant), Richard Holliway, Jarrett Williams, Julias Robison, Charles Fielder, Peter Torney (Forney), William Tucker, John Fain, Samuel Vance, Samuel Fain, Samuel Hensley (Handley), Samuel Samples, Benjamin Grayum (Graham), Andrew Goff, Hugh O’Gullion, Barnett O’Gullion, Patrick St. Lawrence, Joseph Hughey (James Hughey), John Bradley, Bazaleel Maxwell.
The Adversary was Chief Hokoleskwa Cornstalk
- Houston, Florence Amelia Wilson. Maxwell History and Genealogy : Including the Allied Families of Alexander, Allen , Bachiler, Batterton, Beveridge,.
GENEALOGY OF BEZALEEL MAXWELL.
Bezaleel Maxwell emigrated from Scotland to Philadelphia. After a short residence in Pennsylvania, the family removed to Albemarle County, Virginia. (See Virginia Court Records.) He married Rebecca Boyd, and their son, John Maxwell, married Fannie (Frances) Garner (Gardner). Their son, Bezaleel Maxwell, born December 20, 1751, in Albemarle County, Virginia, died January 9, 1829, in Jefferson County, Indiana, married, February 6, 1775, Margaret Anderson, born September 4, 1755, died March 16, 1834. Issue:
I. John Maxwell. II. Samuel Maxwell. III. James Anderson Maxwell. IV. Anna Maxwell. V. Elizabeth Maxwell. VI. David Hervey Maxwell. VII. William Maxwell. VIII. Edward Maxwell. IX. Fannie Maxwell. X. Margaret Maxwell. XI. Matilda Maxwell.
- Bazaleel Maxwell enlisted 2 June 1774, and became a member of Capt Doack's Company, under the command of General Anderson. Capt Doack died in August of that year and on 7th of Oct 1774, his Company was assigned to the Company of Capt Evan Shelby, with Isaac Shelby, the first Lt. He remained in active duty for seven years, from 2 June 1774, until the close of the Revolutionary War and until the British forces were driven from American soil.
- ↑ THis could be John Walker III of the Wigton Walker line
- ↑ Conceivbly Person:Hugh Dobbins (5) of Albemarle County, from which Bazaleel is believed to have come