James Pennington Genealogy
 
Henry Inwood (1838-1924) with wife Josephine.  Henry was Esther Inwood's 3-year younger brother.
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William Inwood Jr. (1836-1922).  Esther Inwood's 1-year younger brother.
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I've just posted a CDV photo of William Inwood Sr. at the bottom of my James & Esther page.  This photo type was popular during the Civil War.  Here is a little information concerning William.

He is said to have come to America because he had heard his grandfather tell wonderful stories about the colonies having had been there during the Revolutionary War.  William, with his wife Charlotte and family, left London on the "Barque Egyptian" landing in New York on 24 April 1837.  The passenger manifest lists them as follows:

William Inwood, 39, bricklayer
Charlotte Inwood, 29
Ruth Inwood, 11
Ann Inwood, 8
James Inwood, 6
Mary Inwood, 4
Esther Inwood, 2
William Inwood, 1

Charlotte smuggled a large amount of lace past the immigration officials by hiding it in William's dirty diapers. 

Upon landing, they probably came to Michigan via the Erie Canal.  From Detroit they rented a team of oxen with a wagon, and took the corduroy road to Royal Oak.  As Charlotte felt the ride was too rough for William Jr., she carried him ahead of the wagon. 

They arrived in Washington, Macomb Co. where William Sr. supported the family as a mason.  Later, William purchased a homestead of 200 acres near Mt. Vernon.  This was located on the present day Inwood.

On their arrival to Michigan, William and Charlotte used fictitious birth dates - appearing on their tomb stones.  According to Gene Inwood, William deserted from the English army.  Desertion was punishable by death.

The Inwood family was very religious.  They were members of the Mt. Vernon Baptist Church.  Every evening they would sit at the kitchen table for prayer and a Bible reading or a sermon prepared by William.  One evening their son James became bored with the sermon about fire and brimstone.  He set fire - either to the kitchen table or his father's beard! 

William Sr. and William Jr. both declared their intention to become American citizens on 13 March 1860.

William Inwood Sr. was the husband of Charlotte Remnent.  They were the parents of Esther Inwood who married James Pennington on 12 Feb 1857.
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James Heidle?? 12/16/2011
 
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.
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1850 Census - Ray, Macomb County, Michigan
Page 1 - Household of George Robb
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1850 Census - Cont.
James Pennington, age 22?, occupation - none, born: England
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Passenger Manifest for Francis
Greenock, Scotland to New York - 26 May 1838
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Robb Family - farmers from Scotland
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End of Manifest - James Hidle (Heidle) and Will McGregor, ages 14/14, found stowed away in the hold.
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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. 

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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.
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New Tab - Land 09/14/2010
 
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.
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New Tab - WAR 09/03/2010
 
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.   
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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.  
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I've requested of the National Archives the complete file pertaining to James Pennington's pension request.  In order to request pension post-war it was required that the soldier be wounded by the war.  James was blinded in one eye - not certain which.  I am hoping these records will reveal that fact.

In order to request pension, much paperwork had to be submitted.  Any paperwork sent in by James or his wife Esther will be on file.  I have requested actual paper copies of all this material.  What new information will come to light?  I am anxious to receive the file.  Unfortunately, this can take months.  The National Archives site even suggested it may take up to 120 days to complete.  I guess the Archivists are in no hurry.  So we must wait.
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