Re: ASBELL, Knox County, KY

Your Merel/Marial Asbell may have been related to the family line I have been researching for several years. Their surname has been spelled in numerous different ways. Sometimes this is due to spelling errors on the part of record takers, but there were also different spelling preferences within the family itself.

My gggrandmother was Sally Asbell,born in 1811 in Madison Cty., KY, was the daughter of William Asbell (also spelled Azbell/Asbel). Sally's mother was a full-blooded Overhill Cherokee. William Asbell, Sally's father, was said to have been at least 1/2 Cherokee. Prior to moving to KY in abt. 1809, they had lived in Wilkes County, GA, & before that in HangingDog, Cherokee Nation of North Carolina.

My gggrandmother, Sally, married her 1st cousin, Tyre Asbill, born in Madison Cty.,KY in 1809. Sally & Tyre's fathers were brothers, but one spelled his name 'Asbill', while the other used 'Asbell'. There have also been those among this same family who have used the phonetic spelling 'Azbell' or 'Azbill', which is supposedly the original spelling.

Most of my Asbill/Asbell line were at least part Cherokee.

When Sally married Tyre Asbill, her 1st cousin, in 1829, they moved to Missouri. Sally's parents then went back to live in Indian territory in NC. Sally & Tyre were among the first groups of settlers to cross the plains into Oregon in 1843. In 1850, they moved to California.

At least of of Sally Asbell's brothers (Joseph) was married in Knox Cty., KY, & mostl likely lived there for some time.
You should check out the web site on William Asbell--maybe you can find a connection to your Merel. Also you may want to e-mail Delmar Asbill (his e-mail address can be found on the web site), and he may be able to find some record of your gggrandfather, since he has researched this family extensively.

Jill Kane