Thomas Cardwell of Granville Co., NC

Thomas Cardwell
of Granville County, North Carolina
by Rand Cardwell - 14Dec2006

NOTE: This information is a work in progress. Please research all the data on your own. As new information is researched it will be added here and increase the overall understanding of this branch of the Cardwell family. This line has been plagued by poor research and many bold assumptions in the past. Hopefully, by working with numerous Cardwell researchers a much clearer picture will develop on this branch. This process will occur over time. Check back often for updates. We are actively seeking living males from this line that still carry the Cardwell surname for DNA testing. One individual from the line of Thomas’ son, William N. Cardwell, recently submitted his DNA for testing. The results are back and were a little unexpected. We still need other Cardwell men from the Thomas Cardwell of Granville line for testing. Click here for information on the Cardwell DNA Project or check out the results concerning this line below.

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Thomas Cardwell and his wife, Mary LNU, are the root of a huge branch of the American Cardwell family. Cardwell family researchers have attempted for years to connect him with the root families of Virginia, but with no success. Assumptions have been made that he is the son of George Cardwell and Leticia LNU (possibly Lee) of Cumberland County, Virginia. Recent research has indicated that the son of Thomas and Leticia moved to the Claiborne/Grainger County, Tennessee area on the Clinch River. Note: The Clinch River divides the two counties and records can be found in both counties. Additionally, Thomas Cardwell married Mary A. Freeman on 11 September 1787 in Amelia County, Virginia. Several other of George’s children married in this county as well. Earlier researchers have cited this marriage as being the Thomas and Mary of Granville County, North Carolina. Examination of the dates of birth of the children of Thomas and Mary of Granville County, North Carolina shows that several of them were born prior to the 1787 marriage listed in the records of Amelia County, Virginia. With that evidence, Mary - wife of Thomas Cardwell of Granville - will remain listed as LNU (Last Name Unknown). The year that Thomas of Granville was born is unknown, but an estimate can be made based off the birth year of his oldest child. That child was Leonard Cardwell and he was born about 1773 in Virginia. Assuming that Thomas was 18-24 years old at the time of birth of Leonard, we can assume that he was born between 1749 and 1755. Again, this rules out Thomas Cardwell, son of George and Leticia Cardwell of Cumberland County, Virginia as being his parents. George died in 1767 and his minor children were bound out to John Netherland of Cumberland County, Virgina. Later, on 18 February 1777 in Powhaten County, Virginia, Thomas, John and Perrin, all listed as minor orphans of George Cardwell, are bound out to Francis Cardwell. Francis appears to be their older brother. Therefore, Thomas - son of George Cardwell and Leticia - would have still been under 21 years of age in 1777 and bound out in the care of his presumed older brother, Francis. This is in relation to Thomas Cardwell of Granville County, North Carolina having already been married and fathered children of his own by 1773. The dates just don’t match! Digest this information and determine what you will.

From a research perspective, Mecklenburg County, Virginia may hold some information in various court documents that provide additional data on Thomas Cardwell of Granville County, North Carolina. A brief examination of Mecklenburg County records provided three records to date, but more are suspected. Additional research is needed in Mecklenburg County, Virginia records. Note: Mecklenburg County, Virginia is on the northern border of Granville County, North Carolina. On 09 June 1787, Thomas Cardwell, along with David Adkins, and Thomas Fleman, witnessed the will of George Duncan in Mecklenburg County, Virginia. It was proven in court by the oaths of Thomas Cardwell and .Thomas Fleman on 10 April 1788. Next, we find Thomas Cardwell as witness to the will of William Duncan in August 1795 in Mecklenburg County, Virginia. William Duncan being the son of George Duncan from above. It mentions a tract of land in Granville County, North Carolina. Is there some form of family tie with the Duncans or are they just associates of Thomas Cardwell? This question is yet to be answered, but it is so far the the earliest known record concerning Thomas Cardwell of Granville County, North Carolina.

The records of Granville County, North Carolina provide additional information concerning Thomas and Mary. He first appears in those records in the 1790 Tax List living in the Island Creek District. On 02 January 1790, Thomas Cardwell was witness to a Deed between Edward Smith and Humprey Parish. Granville County, North Carolina - 1792 Deed Book - pages 324-326. He is also listed in the 1790 Granville County, North Carolina census, but I have yet to review that record. The next important record is listed in the 1800 Granville County, North Carolina Deed Book “5”. page 49. The following is an abstract.

03 July 1799 - Will of Thomas "Cardwell" (sic). Mentions sons Leonard, Thomas, William, John. Daughter Patty Nance. Proved May, 1800. Will Book 5, p. 49. Witnesses: Abraham Lawrence, David Parish.

This document proves that Thomas Cardwell of Granville County, North Carolina died by 03 July 1799 in that county. His sons, Leonard Cardwell, Thomas Cardwell, Jr., William Cardwell, and John Cardwell, and daughter Patty Cardwell Nance, are listed by name in that document. Thomas’ widow, Mary Cardwell, is listed in the 1800 Granville County, North Carolian census with several children.

1800 Granville County, North Carolina census.

Mary Cardwell - born between 1755 and 1774

Male Cardwell - born between 1774 and 1784
Male Cardwell - born between 1774 and 1784
Male Cardwell - born between 1784 and 1790
Male Cardwell - born between 1784 and 1790
Female Cardwell - born between 1784 and 1790
Male Cardwell - born between 1790 and 1800
Male Cardwell - born between 1790 and 1800
Male Cardwell - born between 1790 and 1800
Female Cardwell - born between 1790 and 1800
Female Cardwell - born between 1790 and 1800

This is assuming that all the children that are listed in the household are the children of Thomas and Mary.

Abstract from Granville County, North Carolina Deed Book - "Jan. 25, 1802 - John Terrel enters 450 ac. in Granville co. on both sides of Cowpen Fork of Beaverdam Creek, borders Mary Cardwell, John Moore, William Ames, Thomas Grant & others"

The 1810 Granville County, North Carolina census does not find a listing for Mary, but two of the children can be found.

1810 Granville County, North Carolina census.

Leonard Cardwell - born between 1765 and 1784

Lucy Strum Cardwell - wife of Leonard - born between 1784 and 1794
Male - assumed brother of Leonard - born between 1784 and 1794
Male - born between 1800 and 1810
Male - born between 1800 and 1810
Female - born between 1800 and 1810
Female - born between 1800 and 1810

William Cardwell - born between 1784 and 1794

Anne Lawrence Cardwell - wife - born between 1794 and 1800 (age must be an error)
Male - born between 1800 and 1810
Male - born between 1800 and 1810

Mary Cardwell, widow of Thomas, and other minor children might be living with a married daughter or other members of the Granville County community. A detailed examination of the 1810 Granville County, North Carolina census might provide a clue to which family. The next census reflects what might be the several of the younger siblings of Leonard living in his home.

1820 Granville County, North Carolina census.

Leonard Cardwell - born before 1775

Lucy Strum Cardwell - wife of Leonard - born between 1775 and 1794
Male - assumed brother of Leonard - born between 1775 and 1794
Male - assumed brother of Leonard - born between 1775 and 1794
Male - assumed brother of Leonard - born between 1775 and 1794
Male - assumed brother of Leonard - born between 1775 and 1794
Male - assumed brother of Leonard - born between 1794 and 1804
Male - born between 1794 and 1804
Male - born between 1794 and 1804
Male - born between 1794 and 1804
Male - assumed son of Leonard - born between 1802 and 1804
Female - assumed daughter of Leonard - born between 1804 and 1810
Feamle - assumed daughter of Leonard - born betwen 1804 and 1810
Male - assumed son of Leonard - born between 1804 and 1810
Female - assumed daughter of Leonard - born between 1810 and 1820
Female - assumed daughter of Leonard - born between 1810 and 1820
Female - assumed daughter of Leonard - born between 1810 and 1820
Male - assumed son of Leonard - born between 1810 and 1820
Male - assumed son of Leonard - born between 1810 and 1820
Male - assumed son of Leonard - born between 1810 and 1820

William Cardwell - born between 1775 and 1794

Anne Lawrence Cardwell - wife of William - born between 1775 and 1794
Male - assumed son of William - born between 1804 and 1810
Male - assumed son of William - born between 1804 and 1810
Female - assumed daughter of William - born between 1810 and 1820
Female - assumed daughter of William - born between 1810 and 1820
Male - assumed son of William - born betwen 1810 and 1820
Male - assumed son of William - born betwen 1810 and 1820

Given the large number of older males that are living in the home of Leonard, the oldest child of Thomas and Mary Cardwell, it would appear that he has assumed the position of family patriarch. It can also be assumed that Mary, his mother, has died by 1820 and the majority of her children and living with Leonard. Additional research is needed to determine all the exact relationships and names of the individuals that are present in Leonard household in the 1820 Granville County, North Carolina census.

The obvious question to ask is where are Thomas Cardwell, Jr. and John Cardwell, sons of Thomas listed in his 1799 Granville County Will? Are they included in the number of older males listed in the home of Leonard in the 1820 Granville County census or have they migrated to points farther west? Before we get to that, let us examine some important documentation from the North Carolina Supreme Court.

The North Carolina Supreme Court heard a case filed on December 1805 known as “Cardwell heirs vs. Brodie.” From the abstract: “Cardwell heirs vs. Brodie: Named were Mary Cardwell, executrix of Thomas Cardwell; sons - Leonard and Thomas Cardwell appointed guardians of the said infants (under age of 21 in August 1802) that are represented to us - William, John, Wilson, Caleb, Anderson, Dudley, Nelson, Mary, Sally and Nancy Cardwell.” This document provides the names of Thomas and Mary Cardwell’s minor children at the time of Thomas’ death in 1799. It also provides the names of two of their children that were over 21 on that date. Those being Leonard and Thomas. Jr. This provides us with some solid proof on their children and will be the basis of the construction of this branch of the Cardwell family.

DNA RESULTS: The Cardwell Family DNA Project has two results from living Cardwell descendants of this line. The results were a little unexpected to say the least. First off, over the last twenty or thirty years numerous Cardwell researchers have grouped Thomas of Granville in the line of Thomas Cardwell and Martha Perrin of Henrico County, Virginia. A few others, myself included, have considered that Thomas of Granville was from a seperate line. The DNA testing results from a descendant of Daniel J. Cardwell, son of William N. Cardwell and grandson of Thomas Cardwell of Granville, indicate the latter. We have already established a base sequence for the Thomas Cardwell and Martha Perrin line through their sons, George Cardwell and John Cardwell. Thomas of Granville’s DNA does not match these lines. In fact, it indicates that there is only a less than 1% chance that they shared a common ancestor with the last 24 generations, which is roughly over 500 years. Another problem child in Cardwell family research has been Thomas Cardwell of Dinwiddie County, Virginia. He is the guy that married Obedience Thweatt and died in the early 1780s. Again, he has been placed by earlier Cardwell researchers in the line of Thomas Cardwell and Martha Perrin of Henrico County, Virginia. It has now been proven that he too does not connect to this line, but is the closest match for Thomas Cardwell of Granville. There is a 91% probability that they share a common ancestor with the last 24 generations. That is a far cry closer than the 1% probability with the Thomas Cardwell/Martha Perrin line. At this time (February 2007) I have placed Thomas of Granville and Thomas of Dinwiddie in Cardwell Line III. Hopefully, as the Cardwell DNA Project matures additional results will provide a better picture of how all these men are connected. We’re off to a good start. Stay tuned for any additional findings.

Children of Thomas and Mary Cardwell of Granville

1. Leonard Cardwell - oldest child of Thomas Cardwell and Mary LNU of Granville County, North Carolina. He was born about 1773 in Virginia and is listed as one of two guardians of his minor siblings in the 1799 Will of his father. Leonard is listed in the 1810 and 1820 Granville County, North Carolina census records (see above for details). He married Lucy Strum on 18 December 1802 in Granville County, North Carolina. She was born between 1775 and 1794. Click here for an article on Leonard Cardwell and his descendants.

2. Thomas Cardwell, Jr. - was born about 1778 in Virginia according to the 1850 Calloway County, Kentucky census. He was listed as one of two guardians of his minor siblings in the 1799 Will of his father. He married Nancy Loyd on 24 December 1801 in Granville County, North Carolina. Thomas moves to Sumner County, Tennessee by 1815 and is listed in the 1820 and 1830 census records in that county. He moves to Calloway County, Kentucky by 1840 and is listed in the 1840 and 1850 census for that county, He dies in Calloway County, Kentucky in 1853. Click here for an article on Thomas Cardwell, Jr. and his descendants.

3. Nancy G. Cardwell - born about 1777 in Virginia. She is listed in the 1805 North Carolina Supreme Court Case involving the heirs of Thomas Cardwell vs. Brodie. She might married Asa Stem on 30 December 1813 in Granville County, North Carolina. According to the 12 March 1857 Nashville Christian Advocate [click here for record - scroll down]. she moved to Sumner County, Tennesse around 1807. There is a marraige on record in Sumner County, Tennessee between Nancy G. Cardwell and Samuel Bradley on 18 March 1811. She died on 24 June 1856 of cancer in Macon County, Tennessee and records indicate that she was the daughter of Thomas Cardwell and Mary LNU of Granville County, North Carolina.. These marriages are conflicting and the birth date listed for Nancy Cardwell Bradley, 24 May 1797, does not match the information for Nancy Cardwell Stem. More research is needed.

4. William N. Cardwell - born about 1779 in Virginia. He is listed a minor (under 21 years of age at the time of his father’s death in 1799) in the 1805 North Carolina Supreme Court Case “Cardwell heirs vs. Brodie”.He married Anne Lawrence on 04 November 1806 in Granville County, North Carolina. William remains in Granville County, North Carolina until 1850, at the age of 70, when he is listed in the home of his son, Daniel J. Cardwell, in Smith County, Tennessee. Click here for an article on William N. Cardwell and his descendants.

5. John G. Cardwell - born about 1783 in Virginia. He is listed a minor (under 21 years of age at the time of his father’s death in 1799) in the 1805 North Carolina Supreme Court Case “Cardwell heirs vs. Brodie”. John G. Cardwell moves to Smith County, Tennessee and may have been the first of the brothers to make the journey. He is listed in Smith County, Tennessee court records in 1807. John married Sarah H. Robinson. He died in 1843 and leaves a Will that assists in determining his family. Click here for the developing research.

6. Richard Wilson Cardwell - born on 28 September 1785 in Virginia. He is listed as “Wilson”, a minor (under 21 years of age at the time of his father’s death in 1799) in the 1805 North Carolina Supreme Court Case “Cardwell heirs vs. Brodie”. Richard moves to Bedford County, Tennessee. He is listed in the 1830 Sumner County, Tennessee census. By 1840, he settles in Washington County, Arkansas. He spends the rest of his life in Washington County. He was a Methodist Minister. Click here for the developing research.

7. Caleb Cardwell - born about 1784 in Virginia. He is listed a minor (under 21 years of age at the time of his father’s death in 1799) in the 1805 North Carolina Supreme Court Case “Cardwell heirs vs. Brodie”. Caleb served in the War of 1812 with troops from Tennessee. He is listed in the 1820 Smith County, Tennessee census. He moves to Montgomery County, Illinois between 1820 and 1830. He is listed in the 1830 and 1840 census for that county. Caleb’s wife is unknown. He died in Montgomery County, Illinois between 1840 and 1850. Click here for the latest research on Caleb Cardwell and his descendants.

8. Anderson Cardwell - born about 1785 in Virginia. He is listed a minor (under 21 years of age at the time of his father’s death in 1799) in the 1805 North Carolina Supreme Court Case “Cardwell heirs vs. Brodie”. Anderson moves with several of his siblings to Smith County, Tennessee and is listed in the 1820, 1830 and 1840 census records for that county. Between 1846 and 1847, he moves to Macoupin County, Illinois. He married Elizabeth Robinson about 1818 or 1819. Anderson Cardwell died in Macoupin County, Illinois between 1850 and 1860. Click here for the latest research on Anderson Cardwell and his descendants.

9. James Dudley Cardwell - born about 1789 in Virginia. He is listed a minor (under 21 years of age at the time of his father’s death in 1799) in the 1805 North Carolina Supreme Court Case “Cardwell heirs vs. Brodie”. It is believed that he moved to Tuscaloosa County, Alabama. There is no hard documentation to confirm that Dudley Cardwell is the James D. Cardwell that is known to have lived in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama. Research by myself and other Cardwell family research have placed James of Tuscaloosa as the most likely candidate. Click here for the latest research on this branch.

10. Nelson Cardwell - born between 1794 and 1804 in Granville County, North Carolina. He was the son of Thomas Cardwell and Mary LNU of Granville County, North Carolina. He is listed a minor (under 21 years of age at the time of his father’s death in 1799) in the 1805 North Carolina Supreme Court Case “Cardwell heirs vs. Brodie”.He moved to Tennessee by 1814 and married Nancy Hughs on 30 November 1816 in Sumner County, Tennessee. He moves to Simpson County, Kentucky and is listed in the 1840 Simpson County, Kentucky. Click here for an article on the latest research on this line.

11. Mary Cardwell - born about ?. She is listed a minor (under 21 years of age at the time of her father’s death in 1799) in the 1805 North Carolina Supreme Court Case “Cardwell heirs vs. Brodie”.

12. Sally Cardwell - born about ?. She is listed a minor (under 21 years of age at the time of her father’s death in 1799) in the 1805 North Carolina Supreme Court Case “Cardwell heirs vs. Brodie”.

Check back often as this branch is researched and additional information is added to the lines of each of the children. Last update 28Aug2007

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