WVHANCOC-L Archives

From: Josette Maxwell <>
Subject: Maxwells of West Virginia
Date: Tue, 20 Feb 2001 21:22:08 -0500

I've put together some information on the Maxwells of
the panhandle area. Several members of my family were
there along with two other separate Maxwell familes.

Josette Maxwell
Boone NC

MAXWELLS OF WEST VIRGINIA


1. There are several Court Order records showing Maxwells in
Brooke County WV between 1797 when it was formed and
the first census of 1810:

- William Maxwell and his wife Sarah

- a probable daughter Sarah who died 1805 (Sarah wife
of William is mentioned in 1806)

- Samuel who is established as a son of William and Sarah

-Thomas Maxwell and his wife Jane Meeks (who move to
Ohio in1807); Thomas is one of the seven sons of Henry
Maxwell who married Agness Carson

- a second Samuel Maxwell who dies in 1807. This second
Samuel is another son of Henry Maxwell m. Agness
Carson

- Henry Maxwell who is on a grand jury in 1801, the only
listing. I have no idea who this Henry might have been.
It is not Henry, another son of Henry Maxwell m. Agness
Carson because that Henry is in Washington County PA
In 1800.

- John Maxwell, who is another son of Henry Maxwell m.
Agness Carson (identifyable from analysis of Census data)

- James Maxwell in 1808 and 1809 as a defendant. I have
no clue about who this James is. James, son of Henry
Maxwell m. Agness Carson is in Washington County PA
in 1800 and 1810.

2. 1810 Census

There are two Maxwells listed:

- Samuel Maxwell
3 m 0-10 Samuel, Smiley, John
1 m 26-45 Samuel (born after 1765)
1 f 0-10 Elizabeth
1 f 26-45 Sarah
This information is consistent with this Samuel being
the son of William and Sarah Maxwell who dies in
Hancock County WV. His children at this time were

Samuel Scott b. 1805
Smiley b. 1808
John b. 1810
Elizabeth 1810 (established by Census analysis)

- John Maxwell
2 m 0-10 John,
1 m 10-16 Henry or James
1 m + 45 (born before 1765)
1 f 10-16
1 f 26-45 Mary (established by Census analysis)

This John Maxwell is the son of Henry Maxwell and Agness
Carson. His children are know but without any information
on when born except for analysis of census data. He had
four sons and two daughters where we know the name of
only one daughter;

Samuel b. 1810-1820
John b. 1804-1810
James b. 1805
Henry b. 1800
Daughter b. 1804-1810
Daughter b. 1794-1804

3. In the 1820 Census, there are three Maxwells:

- Samuel Maxwell

2 m - 10 John, Robert
2 m 10-16 Samuel Scott, Smiley
1 m 26-45 (born 1775 or later)
2 f 10-16 Elizabeth, ?
1 f 26-45

This is consistent with the known children of Samuel Scott
except for the second female 10-16

- John Maxwell

1 m 0-10 Samuel
1 m 10-16 John
2 m 16-26 Henry and James
1 m over 45
1 f 10-16
1 f 16-26
1 f 26-45 (b. 1775-1794)

This is consistent with the known children of John.

- Henry Maxwell

1 m 0-10
1 m 26-45 (b. 1775-1794)
1 f 16-26

This isn't Henry son of Henry Maxwell m. Agness
Carson because that Henry was born in 1764. He could
could not be a grandson with that birth year. The only
possibility is that he simply moved into the area briefly
(this is the only census entry) or that he is another son
of William and Sarah.

3. The 1830 Census:

There are six Maxwells listed:

William Maxwell
1 m 0-5
1 m 30-40 (b. 1790-1800)
1 f 0-5
2 f 5-10
1 f 15-20
1 f 30-40

Willliam Maxwell
1 m 0-5
1 m 50-60
1 f 10-15
1 f 20-30
1 f 50-60

I have no idea who these might be. There is beyond this
only a listing in 1850 for another William Maxwell.

Samuel Maxwell

1 m 10-15
2 m 15-20 (John and Robert)
1 m 40-50
1 f 5-10
1 f 15-20 (Elizabeth)

This is consistent except for the male 10-15 which
doesn't conform to known children and the female
5-10.

John Maxwell (son of Henry and Agness) does not
appear in this census. There is, however,

John Maxwell
1 m 5-10
2 m 15-20
1 f 40-50 (b. 1780-1790)

This suggests that John Maxwell, son of Henry and
Agness died because the age of the female is consistent
with prior Census records. It is, however, not consistent
with known children and census info for this year ( male
5-10 could be Samuel but)

Henry Maxwell (The son of John Maxwell)
1 m 0-5
1 m 30-40
1 f 20-30

Samuel Maxwell
1 m 15-20
1 f 0-5
1 f 15-20

This is clearly not Samuel Scott Maxwell b. 1805.

4. 1840 Census

Samuel Maxwell (living next door to Henry Maxwell)
and Henry Maxwell are clearly the sons of John Maxwell.

Samuel


1 m. 20-30
1 f 20-30

There is no listing of a daughter who appeared in the 1830
Census.

Henry Maxwell

1 m 5-10
1 m 10-15
2 m 40-50
1 f 0-5
1 f 5-10
1 f 30-40

The second male 40-50 I believe to be his brother James.
His brother John Maxwell appears to have left the area.

Samuel Maxwell (son of William and Sarah) is in this
Census along with his sons Smiley, Samuel Scott and
John (because the age of the child matches).

5. 1850 Census for Hancock County shows Samuel (son of William
and Sarah) along with his sons Robert and John. Samuel Scott
and Smiley are known to have left for Mt. Pleasant County WV
In 1842.

In Brooke County:

There is an Elizabeth Maxwell age 48 living with a family
Jacob Amiers?

Henry Maxwell (son of John Maxwell) is there along with

James Maxwell age 45
Mary Maxwell b. PA age 70 (1780) who must be his
Mother and therefore the wife of John Maxwell his father.
There are no children listed.but a Nancy Brownlee b OH
age 29 lives with them. There is actually a double listing
of this James on separate pages.

The second James Maxwell listed is a free black

W. R. Maxwell age 40 b. PA is listed


Henry Maxwell and James Maxwell don't appear in the
1860 Census. Their brothers Samuel and John don't
appear.

This thread:

• Maxwells of West Virginia by Josette Maxwell <>