Whitesell-Somers Family Web Project - Person Sheet
Whitesell-Somers Family Web Project - Person Sheet
NameElias POWELL 
214,470, Elias Powell
214,470, Elias PowellBirthSep 26, 1754, Orange County, North Carolina470, Elias Powell,214, Culpeper County, VA
DeathMay 5, 1832, Lenoir, Caldwell County, North Carolina470, Elias Powell
BurialLower Creek Baptist Church, 633 Lower Creek Dr, Lenoir, Caldwell County, North Carolina470, Elias Powell
Spouses
BirthJun 18, 1754, Berks County, Pennsylvania214,470, Anna Barbara Albright Powell
DeathMar 1, 1802, Guilford County, North Carolina470, Anna Barbara Albright Powell,214, 1840
BurialLower Creek Baptist Church, 633 Lower Creek Dr, Lenoir, Caldwell County, North Carolina470, Anna Barbara Albright Powell
FatherLudwig ALBRIGHT (1731-1810)
MotherAnna Maria KELLER (1733-1803)
Obituary Online notes for Elias POWELL
78 years.
“Most of the accounts represent that the British Colonel Ferguson was killed outright. He is said to have received six or eight bullet holes in his body—one penetrating his thigh, another re-shattering his right arm just above the elbow; and yet he continued to raise his sword in his left hand, till a rifle ball piercing his head, put an end to further fighting or consciousness. In falling from his horse, or while being conveyed to the rear, a silver whistle dropped from his vest pocket, which was picked up by one of his soldiers, Elias Powell, who preserved it for many years; and Powell, and three others, as John Spelts relates, were seen, at the close of the surrender, bearing off, in a blanket, their fallen chief to a spring near the mountain brow, on the southern side of the elevation; and there gently bolstered him up with rocks and blankets.” “Powell was one of the young men induced to enlist under Ferguson’s banner, and became much attached to his commander. He was taken prisoner to Hillsboro, where he was paroled, and returned to his widowed mother, who lived as what is known as Powellton, two miles east of Lenoir, Caldwell County, on the western frontier of North Carolina. There he lived until his death, May 5th, 1832. The silver whistle then went to one of his decendents, who removed West, and having since died, the relic has been lost sight of. John Spelts related, that Ferguson has a yet larger silver whistle, a foot in length which fell into the hands of Colonel Shelby.” “Elias was born in Culpepper, Virginia on September 26, 1754. He left Virginia and came to North Carolina with two of his brothers, William and Robert, who went on the Kentucky. Elias settled in Orange County, NC. In the summer of 1776, Elias, as on ensign, participated in the expedition to suppress Cherokee Indian uprisings on the frontier. With him was a 17 year old drummer boy, Jacob Albright, whose sister, Barbara, became Elias’ wife, November 25, 1777. About 1780, Elias and his family were among a number of settlers who moved into the frontier country in Caldwell County (then Burke). Elias built his log cabin on the site where years later stood the residence of the late “Red Pink” Puett in the Powelltown area, near Lower Creek Baptist Church. During the battle of Kings Mountain, Elias served as General Patrick Ferguson’s aide-de-camp, supported the brave leader when he fell, and assisted in burying him. Elias kept a small silver whistle which Ferguson has blown as his raced hither and yon signaling to his men during the battle. For years the whistle was a treasured relic of the family. The member who inherited the memento took it West and all trace of it were lost. Elias was taken prisoner after the battle. It is said he and others were brought footsore, weary, and almost famished through the area on their way to prison in Hillsboro. After his release, he returned home to become one of the most highly regarded citizens of the area. Elias and Barbara had seven children: Catherine, who married Stephen Tilley; Elizabeth, who married Isaac Harshaw; the Rev. Philip Powell, who married Elizabeth Herman; Benjamin, who married Nancy Harris; Elijah; George, and a child whose name is not known.
Submitted By: reverhar99 470, Elias Powell
“Most of the accounts represent that the British Colonel Ferguson was killed outright. He is said to have received six or eight bullet holes in his body—one penetrating his thigh, another re-shattering his right arm just above the elbow; and yet he continued to raise his sword in his left hand, till a rifle ball piercing his head, put an end to further fighting or consciousness. In falling from his horse, or while being conveyed to the rear, a silver whistle dropped from his vest pocket, which was picked up by one of his soldiers, Elias Powell, who preserved it for many years; and Powell, and three others, as John Spelts relates, were seen, at the close of the surrender, bearing off, in a blanket, their fallen chief to a spring near the mountain brow, on the southern side of the elevation; and there gently bolstered him up with rocks and blankets.” “Powell was one of the young men induced to enlist under Ferguson’s banner, and became much attached to his commander. He was taken prisoner to Hillsboro, where he was paroled, and returned to his widowed mother, who lived as what is known as Powellton, two miles east of Lenoir, Caldwell County, on the western frontier of North Carolina. There he lived until his death, May 5th, 1832. The silver whistle then went to one of his decendents, who removed West, and having since died, the relic has been lost sight of. John Spelts related, that Ferguson has a yet larger silver whistle, a foot in length which fell into the hands of Colonel Shelby.” “Elias was born in Culpepper, Virginia on September 26, 1754. He left Virginia and came to North Carolina with two of his brothers, William and Robert, who went on the Kentucky. Elias settled in Orange County, NC. In the summer of 1776, Elias, as on ensign, participated in the expedition to suppress Cherokee Indian uprisings on the frontier. With him was a 17 year old drummer boy, Jacob Albright, whose sister, Barbara, became Elias’ wife, November 25, 1777. About 1780, Elias and his family were among a number of settlers who moved into the frontier country in Caldwell County (then Burke). Elias built his log cabin on the site where years later stood the residence of the late “Red Pink” Puett in the Powelltown area, near Lower Creek Baptist Church. During the battle of Kings Mountain, Elias served as General Patrick Ferguson’s aide-de-camp, supported the brave leader when he fell, and assisted in burying him. Elias kept a small silver whistle which Ferguson has blown as his raced hither and yon signaling to his men during the battle. For years the whistle was a treasured relic of the family. The member who inherited the memento took it West and all trace of it were lost. Elias was taken prisoner after the battle. It is said he and others were brought footsore, weary, and almost famished through the area on their way to prison in Hillsboro. After his release, he returned home to become one of the most highly regarded citizens of the area. Elias and Barbara had seven children: Catherine, who married Stephen Tilley; Elizabeth, who married Isaac Harshaw; the Rev. Philip Powell, who married Elizabeth Herman; Benjamin, who married Nancy Harris; Elijah; George, and a child whose name is not known.
Submitted By: reverhar99 470, Elias Powell