Issac Sowell (son of Obediah Sowell and Mary Raynor) was born Abt. 1740 in Bertie County, North Carolina, and died November 25, 1782 in Charleston, Ashley Hill Plantation, South Carolina. He married Mary Quimby on 1762 in Cumberland County, North Carolina, daughter of Eleazer Quimby and Anne Lassitor.
Notes for Issac Sowell: Sewell's Roots, pages 36 and 40. Issac married Mary, the daughter of a carpenter, Eleazer Quimby who lived in Bertie, NC.
The Sewell name became "Sowell" when Issac lived in North Carolina. In the early 1800's the name was spelled "Seawell" in Sheet's History of the N.C. Baptists and Sandy Creek Baptist Association. The pronunciation "Soo-well" continues in most sections of N.C. yet - 1966 - except the Army and the Navy call the name "See-well".
The Sewells are from Wales, England, and near Gloucester County, Virginia. Tradition says there were 10 brothers who came to America. "SEWELL'S POINT" in Virginia is name for one of them. They scattered into North Carolina, Georgia, T elmessee, and one went to Maine. Some Sewells settled near Denton and Davidson, N. C. on the Yadkin River.
There's a possibility that the name was Sewall originally and that, on coming to NC, Issac changed the spelling to Sowell & his brother Samuel to Seawell. According to one source, the Sowells met at the courthouse in Carthage in 1866 and changed the name to Seawell over some family dispute. Another source suggest that the sounding of the name made by the Scotch-Irish, "Soo-well" made it sound like a pig, to their disgust.
The Pilot -Southern paper dated September 21, 1983 includes this article:
"Louise Seawell of Carthage, N. C. has done research on Isaac Sowell in the N. C. State Archives, Cumberland County deeds and tax lists, Moore County Court minutes, and Moore Couty Censuses 1790-1800. "The exact date of the arrival of Isaac Sowell in the portion of Cumberland County , which in 1784 became Moore County , is not known, but we find a land deed dated January 7, 1772, recorded in Cumberland County , January Term 1772. This deed shows that the 300-acre tract was purchased from Jacob McLendon for the sum of 55 pounds, and that the land was located on a branch of McLendons Creek called Black Creek. This tract of land had been granted on December 5, 1760, to Thomas Knight, who sold it to Jacob McLendon on July 25, 1762, for 35 pounds proclamation money ."
"Due to the limited records available. only two tax listings. those being for the years 1778 and 1780 in the district of Capt. William Seale. were found for Isaac Sowell in Cumberland County. List of Taxables." They had the following children: John. Margaret, William.
Isaac Sowell served as a private in the 2nd battalion of the North Carolina Regiment commanded by Colonel John Annstrong in the Company of Captain Elijah Moore. While encamped on Ashley Hill under the command of General Greene in South Carolina, he became ill and was sent to the General Hospital to regain his health, but he soon died there. The Muster Rolls show date ofhis absence from duty as November 25, 1782. He was buried on Ashley Hill Plantation, which is near Charleston, s. C.
The inventory of personal property which his wife filed at the May Tenn 1785, Moore County Court listed: One slave, 2 horses, 9 head of cattle, an oxen, hogs, and various other personal property and 300 acres of land.
On September 8, 1985, at a Seawell-Sowell Family Reunion at Friendship Baptist Church a memorial marker was dedicated to honor Isaac Sowell who gave his life while serving his country in the continental line during the American Revolution.
Marker reads: ISAAC SOWELL, Born ca. 1740/41 -Died Nov 1782, Pvt., 2nd Bn., N. C. Regiment, Col. John Armstrong, Commanding, Died at General Hospital after 25 Nov. 1782, Buried Ashley Hill Plantation, near Charleston. S. C. Wife of Isaac Sowell, MARY QUIMBY SOWELL, ca. 1745- ca. 1806/08, Her place of burial unknown, Their children: Margaret, John, Dempsey, Ann, Wmmford, Abihu, Asa and Jesse."
In 1772 Isaac Sowell purchased land in Moore County along McLendon's Creek as did Obadiah Sowell. A review of Bertie County , NC, tax lists in the 1750's reveals an Obadiah Sowell who beginning in 1757 is listed as paying for three tithables, i.e. male adults. In the 1759 list, Obadiah Sowell is listed with Isaac Sowell and Obadiah Sowell, Jr. as a family group. In 1782 Obadiah Sowell has returned to Bertie County. (This Obadiah is either Sr. or Jr. -Other Moore County materials claim Obadiah Sowell Sr. is buried in a Sowell cemetery in Moore with five unmarked gravestones)"
Isaac Sowell was a wheelwright in Moore County , NC -Source: Miscellaneous Ancient Records of Moore County, NC
Records of "General Services Administration" Washington DC F388. Isaac Sowell North Carolina (Revolutionary War) Private, card number 37185872. Book mark: R. P. 436.786. He was in Lytles Company, North Carolina Regiment. Date of enlistment or appointment 1782.
Raleigh, NC Archives, Revolutionary Military Papers, John Sowell submits petition for land warrant to the General Assembly, dated December 5, 1806, was referred by the House of Commons and Senate of NC to committee, December 19, 1806. 640 acres was awarded for the military service and death of Isaac Sowel during the Revolutionary War.
More About Issac Sowell and Mary Quimby: Marriage: 1762, Cumberland County, North Carolina.
Children of Issac Sowell and Mary Quimby are:
+John Sowell, b. July 20, 1762, Salisbury District, Moore County, North Carolina, d. October 08, 1825, Williamsport, Tennessee.
Margaret Sowell, b. 1762, Moore County, North Carolina, d. date unknown.
Ann "Annie" Sewell, b. 1764, Moore County, North Carolina, d. date unknown.
Dempsey Sewell, b. Bef. 1766, Moore County, North Carolina, d. date unknown.
Issac Sowell (b. Abt. 1740, d. November 25, 1782)
Notes for Issac Sowell: