Benjamin Franklin Van Winkle

Life and Times of Benjamin Franklin Van Winkle (1763-1850)

- by Blytha (Dennis) Ellis, descendant of the Asbell family who migrated with the Van Winkles

Benjamin Franklin Van Winkle was born in about 1763 in New Jersey. He became a pioneer in the area of Madison County, Kentucky. The land west of the Appalachian Mountains was purchased in 1774 by the United States from the Cherokee Indians. Frontiersman Daniel Boone blazed a trail called the Wilderness Road or Trace which many pioneer families used to migrate into Kentucky .

Madison County, Kentucky, was created in 1785, and Benjamin Van Winkle was one of the pioneer families who settled in the southeastern area of this new county, arriving in the early 1800s. Families who reportedly traveled in the same group were Asbell, Becknell, Benge, Carpenter, Coyle, Gentry, Shifflet. Other early settlers in the same area were Bazil Baker, Patrick Coyle, Thomas Lamb, Isham Lane, Thomas Shifflett, the Abrams and the Lax/Lakes families. These families seemed to live in close proximity and all inter-married. Census records show that Benjamin Van Winkle was living in Ashe County, North Carolina in 1800, but he is listed in Madison County, Kentucky, in every census from 1810 to 1850. The year of 1800 is when it is believed Benjamin’s first wife died, probably at the birth of their daughter Rachel who was born in that year. It is believed that Benjamin remarried soon after this, perhaps within the same year. He had at least 4 young children who needed a mother. It seems he went to Madison County, Kentucky, after these events.

Benjamin Van Winkle does not appear in a census after 1850, so it is assumed he died before another census. Some say he died September 14, 1850, but this writer has no documentation of this.

Benjamin first married Allah, who was said to be a full-blooded American Indian (probably Cherokee, but could have been Shawnee ). She probably did not have a last name. Allah reportedly died in 1800 after having 4 known children. Benjamin’s second wife was another American Indian named Hester Little Flower.

The following is a list of known children of Benjamin Franklin Van Winkle. There may have been more, but these are the known ones.

Children of Benjamin Franklin Van Winkle and Allah:

1. Allah Cecil/Cecille Van Winkle, born about 1794 in Virginia , married March 15, 1810 in Madison County, Kentucky, to William Asbell, Jr. (known as Billy or Wild Billy). Bond by John H. Bray. Consent given by Benjamin Van Winkle. Allah died about 1838 in Madison County, Kentucky.

2. James William Van Winkle, born about 1795 in Virginia , married October 8, 1812 in Madison County, Kentucky, to Falleby Baker. Bond by Philemon Kevanaugh. Consent given by Wansley Baker, father of the bride.

3. Nancy Van Winkle, born about 1796, married August 31, 1812 in Madison County, Kentucky, to Reason Baker, Jr. Bond by Wansley Baker. Consent given by Reason Baker, Sr., father of the groom; and by Benjamin Van Winkle, father of the bride.

4. Rachel Van Winkle, born about 1800, married January 5, 1819 in Madison County, Kentucky, to Bazzle/Basil Baker.

Children of Benjamin Franklin Van Winkle and Hester Little Flower:

1. Sarah Sally Van Winkle, born about 1810, married July 26, 1832 in Madison County, Kentucky, to James Abrams. Bond by Bazil Baker. Consent given by Benjamin Van Winkle.

2. Sidney Van Winkle, born about 1822.

3. Benjamin Van Winkle, born about 1824, married Mahala Asbell.

4. Joseph W. Van Winkle, born about 1825, married September 17, 1844 in Madison County, Kentucky, to Juranda Jane Baker, daughter of Burgess Baker and Mary Polly Lane. Bond by John Van Winkle. Consent given by Burgess Baker.

5. Basil/Bazil/Bazzle V. Van Winkle, born about 1826, married January 2, 1849 in Madison County, Kentucky, to Susan Jane Coyle (1834-1909), daughter of Isaac Coyle (1787-1875) and Massie Percival Abrams (1802-1897). Bond by George W. Baker. Consent given by Isaac and Massie Coyle.

BLYTHA_ELLIS originally shared this to Dennis Family Tree 29 Nov 2012 story, Madison County, Kentucky

• Residence: Madison, Kentucky, United States - 1850
  • Reference: FamilySearch Genealogy - SmartCopy: Dec 23 2019, 23:08:41 UTC