Early American Dalzells and Delzells

The Family of David Delzell

David Delzell the Third Son of John Delzell,David Delzell "was born May 20, 1790, probably in that part of Greene County, Tennessee which was later to become Blount County, Tennessee," according to information given to Hugh Wayland Delzell.

Marriage and Family

David Delzell married Polly Davis in 1811 and the first of their 11 children was born in 1812. Polly Davis, his first wife, died in 1834 and David is believed to have been married to Rebecca Stowell in 1838 in Monroe Co TN by Thos Brown, M.G. Rebecca and David had two more children.

The Census Reports

We have the 1830 Census record for David Delzell and his family in Blount Co TN. Hugh Wayland Delzell states "In the 1840 Census of Blount Co TN a Louise Dalzell(sic) is shown as head of a family which I have supposed to be David's family." Hugh Wayland Delzell believes David Delzell may have been in Missouri during the 1840 Census and is recorded in the 1850 census of Greene County Missouri with his wife Rebecca. Here are the records:

Blount Co TN 1830 Census
David Delzell
Male 3 under 5, 1 5-10, 2 10-15, 1 15-20, 1 40-50.
Female 2 5-10, 1 10-15, 1 15-20, 1 30-40.

Blount Co TN 1840 Census
Louise Dalzell
Male 1 5-10, 3 10-15, 1 15-20, 1 20-30, 1 50-60.
Female 2 15-20, 1 40-50
(Note by Hugh Wayland Delzell: "In the 1840 Census of Blount Co TN, a Louise Delzell is shown as head of a family which I have supposed to be David's family. This has me confused. For as we will see later, a David (who we believe is the same) is shown in an 1850 Census with wife, Rebecca. I can only wonder if her name was Rebecca Louise.")

Green Co MO 1850 Census
David Delzell 61 M Farmer 600 TN
Rebecca " 51 F TN
William B. " 18 M TN
Rebecca " 9 F MO
Martha S. " 7 F MO
(Note by Hugh Wayland Delzell: "We will see later that William B. was a son by David's first wife and with the nine children shown in the 1830 Census--plus a daughter not shown--would make a total of eleven children of David Delzell and Polly Davis.")

The Move to Missouri

Soon after selling his land in Blount Co TN David and his family moved to Greene Co Missouri where he farmed and soon became a Justice of the Peace, a highly respection position in the community. He died in 1855 at the age of 65 probably in Greene Co Missouri.

Church Membership

Ray Worth in "Tennessee Cousins" states that David Delzell was an original member of the New Providence Presbyterian Church in Maryville, Tennessee and was a delegate to the 1822 Convention of the church. He was "dismissed" from New Providence Church September 30, 1840, which probably meant that he had moved. There is also a record which stated that David was a Delegate to a Quaker or Anti-slavery Convention in 1822.

Hugh Wayland Delzell sites the text of the "Isaac Anderson Memorial" by Samuel T. Wilson as follows: "At a meeting of the Union Presbytery held at Maryville September 23 1834 he (David Delzell) was named to a committee with Rev E. M. Eagleton and Rev. J. E. Montgomery to consider a petition for organization of the New Prospect Presbyterian Church in Knox County. Mr. Wilson includes the name of David Delzell in a partial list of Ministers who were educated in whole or in part in Maryville College during the 38 years of the administration of President Isaac Anderson." In his Will David does commit his soul to God, but does omit his older brother William's profuse references to Heaven and God.

Land Purchases

In 1832 David Delzell and his brother Robert purchased “216 acres for $500.00 on the waters of Nine Mile Creek which joins Jacob Timmerman.” They sold this same 216 acres for the same price to Daniel O. Foute in 1834. Hugh Wayland Delzell writes "In 1834 David sold a tract of land which contained a black sulfur spring to Foute, who built the hotel at Montvale. This spring was two or three miles from Montvale."

In September 1840 David sold a 130 acre tract to Joseph Tedford which joined Hugh Hamil deceased and heir Henry Hamil, and included the line "to a stake with Robert Delzell." In October 1840 David purchased 288 acres from his brother James for $400.00 which "is part of grant to John Delzell #622, that part willed by him to his son Gideon B. Delzell, he to me." This transaction was witnessed by Robert and William Delzell. Hugh Wayland Delzell found no record of his disposing of these 288 acres which he purchased from his brother James. In 1836 David was named executor of his brother William's Will.

David Settles in Missouri

Hugh Wayland Delzell writes "David had probably made one trip or more to Missouri and may have been on such a trip when the census taker visited the home in Blount County, TN in 1840. That would explain why Louise was listed as head of the house. We do not know when the entire family left but believe it was soon after 26 Sep 1840, when David sold about 130 acres to Joseph Tedford for $740.00. Remember, we saw earlier that David did not sign the partial settlement of his brother William's estate on 13 Nov 1840. We will not guess what route they took or where they may have stopped on the way.

"We think it did not take more than too many months to make the trip, for on 23 Jan 1841, David purchased about 40 acres from Alexander Stowell. This land was described as West half of Lot 1, NE Quarter, Section #3, Township 30, Range 23 West. It lies about three miles north slightly west) of Willard, MO and is about a half mile west of the present road between Willard and Sacville. David was probably among old neighbors from back in Blount County and well known. Before long he was elected Justice of the Peace. As such he performed several marriages. The last we found was on 10 Apr 1855, less than two months before his death.

David's Family

Hugh Wayland Delzell writes "Based on these receipts (see Will) I believe David and Polly's family was: John, David, Margaret, Andrew, Elizabeth, James, Mary, Samuel, Robert, Isaac and William. (Note: Samuel and Robert may be the same.) The children of David and Rebecca appear to have been: Rebecca and Martha.

"We think David's second wife, Rebecca Stowell, was a sister of Alexander Stowell. Remember it was he who sold David his first land in Greene County, Missouri. Later Alexander married David's daughter, Elizabeth Ann. On 31 March 1856, Rebecca sold 80 acres, left to her by David, to William Gossach. On the same day, Alexander Stowell and wife, Elizabeth sold several tracts of land to Reace Gorseech. It is interesting to note that a John B. Stowell and wife, Mary Jane sold land to P. A. Crouch a week later, 7 Apr 1856. Also, on the same day, Isaac A. Delzell and wife and William B. Delzell and wife sold 200 acres to Nimrod Ford.

"We believe these sales were in preparation for a mass movement from Greene County. On 12 Apr 1856 I think they may have all gathered for a final goodbye to those who had decided to stay. For on that day the following signed receipts to David Delzell (he would stay behind): Alex Stowell and wife, Elizabeth Ann; Isaac A. Delzell; Mary Stuart; and William B. Delzell. I think these and their families and David's widow, Rebecca, and her two daughters left soon afterward. We do not expect to find that they returned to Tennessee. In light of the marriage of one of Isaac's daughters in San Francisco, California in 1874 we think this group went west from Greene County--possibly going as far as California within a few months."

David's Will

Again quoting Hugh Wayland Delzell:
"David died in Greene County, MO 3 June 1855 at the age of 65. On 7 July his will, dated 2 June 1855 was filed for probate. Hugh Wayland Delzell wrote "I examined the original will and made a copy of it 28 Oct 1971 at the Probate Court, Greene County Court House. Here is a copy of the complete will:
"Know all men by these presents that I, David Delzell, of the County of Green and State of Missouri, being weak in body but sound and disposing of mind and memory and calling to mind that man is mortal and must die. I do make and ordain this my last will and testament. I would commit my soul to God who gave it and my body to be decently interred at the discretion of my executors believing that I shall receive the same.
"As regards my temporal concern. I bequeath to my loved wife and her two daughters Eighty acres of land, it being the Eighty on which my house and farm is on.
"Twenty Aces of land it being the west half of the northwest quarter of the N.E. quarter of section ten town range 23 to be sold.
"I also give to my wife Rebecca the cows named Thursa and Tennessee and their calves and Blass' young calf and Thursa's two year old steer and Blass' three year old steer.
"I give and bequeath to my son James the 40 acres of land which he now lives on with the exception of the rails that I put on it.
"I give and bequeath to my son William the Eighty acres of land lying west and joing the Eighty acres given to my wife one forty of which he has paid for.
"There is an attached schedule of property supposed to be worth five hundred and two dollars which I allowe to be sold and the money arising therefrom to be equally divided amongst my first wifes children that I have not bequethed any land to or so much thereof as to given them fifty dollars each if there be that much and if any more the balance to be equally divided amongst all my first wifes children.
"I also give to my wife Rebecca my mare trim and her two year old filly also the household and kitchen furniture to be disposed of as she pleases also sixty dollars of money that is in my desk.
"I appoint my wife Rebecca and David S. Delzell and Alex Stowel my Executors.
"This 2nd day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand and Eight hundred and fifty five it being interlined before signed.
"Signed in the presence of(Several lines not legible)
"Attest: James Delzell Isaac A. Delzell"
Note from Hugh Wayland Delzell: "This property was (supposed to be worth $500.00) appraised and sold on 21 Aug 1855. I found eight original receipts from sons and daughters (or son-in-law) of David's first wife in the settlement papers. I did not find a receipt from John's widow (who by then was remarried); David S. (who was distributing the money); or Samuel.

David's Children

David Delzell and Polly his first wife and Elizabeth his second wife produced a very large family. Most of their children were born in Blount Co Tennessee as were some of their grandchildren. David and Polly name their first son John, probably after their David's father John Delzell. There first daughter was named Margaret, probably after David's mother Margaret McFaren.
In 1840-41 they moved the whole family to the southwest corner of Missouri near Springfield, and there, with a few exceptions, their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren lived and were buried.

David's family appears to have kept in close touch with the family of his younger brother James Delzell in Indiana. Some of the children moved to Indiana and remained there.

One exception to the general rule of remaining in Missouri are the families of Isaac and his younger brother William. Hugh Wayland Delzell has not been able to trace their families except for Isaac's daughter Nancy who married Isaac Upham in San Francisco c 1874. I suspect that Isaac and William moved to California since I believe there were Delzell's living in Sonoma County CA.