The first round of 12 Y-DNA markers has been tested. Results are posted on the DNA page. We have also learned what Haplogroup the Pennington family is part of. Haplogroups are a typology of large segments of the entire population who share certain DNA similarities. In this case, Tom tested positive for marker M269 which is a certain indication of Haplogroup R1b1a2. This will all be explained on the DNA page.
Below is the enlistment paper signed by James Pennington at Lockport, New York, prior to his attachment to the 9th New York Cavalry.  James enlisted for the period of 1 year. His physical description: blue eyes, brown hair, fair complexion, and 5 feet 9.5 inches tall. He claimed to be born in Scotland. Age: 35 years. His enlistment came with a bounty. According to his muster reports, James enlisted on 4 Oct 1864. He was paid $33.33 upon enlistment with $66.67 due. His first muster report for Sept/Oct 1864 shows him as being absent for reason: not yet joined. It further states that James had been assigned to the 9th Cavalry on 25 Oct 1864. The next muster report shows James joined up with the company on 12 Dec 1864. He had received $33.33 bounty. This for Nov/Dec 1864. The third muster report for 31 Dec 1864 to 30 April 1865 is marked "present". He received $33.33 bounty due. The fourth muster report for May and June 1865 shows bounty paid $33.33. The final report, the muster-out report, was signed at Clouds Mill , Virginia, dated 17 July 1865. This report shows James last payment of $33.33 to 31 Dec 1864. Shows a balance due: $5.23 for clothing allowance and $33.33 bounty. These reports will soon be added to the Civil War section. Tom Pennington, son of Lyle Pennington, grandson of Warren James Pennington, great-grandson of James Pennington, has stepped forward and agreed to take the Y-DNA test. For this test we needed a male Pennington as the Y-DNA test traces the Y-Chromosome passed from father to son through the ages. Tom's Y-DNA is an identical match to that of James Pennington, so the results may be used to trace further back past our brick wall of not knowing the true parentage of James. We are hoping for a match, some English or Scottish link - this would take another male cousin along another line if one existed: brother of James, uncle, father, etc. A warm thanks goes to Tom Pennington for his willingness to assist. With no record of a James Pennington in either Scotland or England, I've turned my focus on his early American ventures. We do not know when James came to America as he allegedly claimed to have stowed away on a boat. So the first known record we have for James Pennington is on the 1850 Federal Census. He is living with the George Robb family in the town of Ray, Macomb County, Michigan. George Robb is from Scotland, is a farmer, and is 38 years of age. Sarah Robb is 18. And a Richard Shutt, age 21, lives there as well. So I looked into this George Robb to determine when he emigrated and why James would be living with him. I found the passenger manifest for the Francis which sailed from Greenock, Scotland coming to New York on 26 May 1838. All of the passengers were Scottish. The Robb family is listed as: William Robb - 55 agriculturer Margaret Robb - 50 George Robb - 25 Margaret Robb - 18 Robert Robb - 16 Mary Robb - 14 Anne Robb - 12 Janet Robb - 8 There is no James Pennington listed on said manifest. However... Way down on the bottom of the 2-page manifest is found: James Heidle - 14 Will McGregor - 14 The caption next their names states "found stowed away in the hold." Is this our James? Could he have changed his last name? James Pennington claims to have been born around Glasgow. He is stating that he is Scottish. Pennington is NOT a Scottish name. Here is my working theory. James and his buddy Will decided to come to America. They did not have any money being so young. They thought to hide aboard the Francis but were discovered. The Robb family took James in, maybe Will as well. And this is why James came to be in Macomb County. There would be no other reason for him to settle here. This is just theory at this point... but it seems to fit. I am now going to research this James Hidle (Heidle) and Will McGregor to see if I can find any further leads.  1850 Census - Ray, Macomb County, Michigan Page 1 - Household of George Robb  1850 Census - Cont. James Pennington, age 22?, occupation - none, born: England  Passenger Manifest for Francis Greenock, Scotland to New York - 26 May 1838  Robb Family - farmers from Scotland  End of Manifest - James Hidle (Heidle) and Will McGregor, ages 14/14, found stowed away in the hold. I hired a Scottish genealogist who came up blank in his preliminary research for a James Pennington born in or around Glasgow, Scotland around 1832. He referred me to an English genealogist who also came up blank. In my own research, I remember reading of a James Pennington born (or registered) at Liverpool, England with a father (William) and mother (Ann). I am attempting to re-find this record. I am thinking Liverpool as a location is far more likely than Glasgow. I am looking for a male member of the Pennington family to step forward to undergo Y-Chromosome DNA testing. This test will show our ancestry in Scotland/England and possibly match us to living members with the same DNA. It will help answer a few questions I have concerning James Pennington and his parents. The test is expensive. It starts at $169. I will pay half. Based on 1894 land plats from both Cannon and Courtland townships and the information derived from neighbor affidavits during Esther Pennington's Pension Request, I've added new satellite views of James Pennington's 3 parcels: 20 acre homestead that sits on Big Brower Lake, 65 acre parcel directly south, and the 80 acre parcel due east one mile. All parcels touch 10 mile road. I have finished scanning all documentation pertaining to James Pennington found at the National Archives. This information is now indexed under the "War" tab. I have yet to sort through, scan, and upload the documentation of Esther Pennington as James's widow. There is just as much - if not more. Look for this some time next week. I came home last night to a large over-sized envelope at my front door. Was surprised to see it was from the National Archives. Quicker than expected. I spent my evening pouring over the vast amount of information contained within. Inside were pension requests of both James and Esther (when widowed). Next door neighbors were interviewed as well as former Army war buddies of James. All in THEIR OWN HAND-WRITING complete with signatures. I will be posting soon to an updated Civil War page - word for word. This is really good stuff. I now know exactly what happened to James - how he was wounded and where. I know who he berthed with as a Private. And I know how he lived post-war. Still don't have a picture of James. But the medical reports give a pretty thorough description of his post-war self. And he still claims to be born in Scotland: father - William Pennington; mother - Ann Wallace. I have begun the process of tracking down long lost relatives - descendants of the children of James Pennington. And the children of these children. I am looking for photos of the children as I am lacking quality photos for most of them. Most interesting to find would be a photo of James Pennington himself. | AuthorJay Kruizenga is the son of Roselie Pennington, grandson of Ronald Wallace Pennington, great-grandson of Warren James Pennington, and 2nd-great grandson of James Pennington. CategoriesAll ArchivesMay 2012 |
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