Circumstantial evidence indicates that William Woodell, b. c1795, was the son of John Woodell, b. 1761 in Va. It appears that William was first married to a woman named "Ada" as "William & Ada Woodell are listed as the parents of David Woodell, b. 1843, on the application for David's marriage to Catherine (a.k.a. Christian) SMALL, which was filed in Robeson County on 18 September 1868 (Marr. App. data provided by Donna Batten). However, I am not sure if "Ada" was William's first or second wife.

William Woodell, b. 1795, married Molsey MAINES (2nd. or 3rd. marriage) in Robeson County on 10 January 1849, and William died shortly thereafter, before 29 May 1849. In May of 1849 William's widow, Maulsey (MAINES) Woodell, petitioned the Robeson County Court for her rights to dower. The petition states: Maulsey Woodell Vs. Charles Woodell, Rhoda Creech, and others. Unfortunately, I don't know who all the "others" are, but this Charles Woodell is the same person as my 3rd great-grandfather, Charles P. Woodell, who married Sarah Creech in Columbus Co., NC, c1838. The Rhoda Creech named in the petition is Charles' sister, she married Elisha Creech, brother of Sarah Creech who married Charles P. Woodell. Both Charles Woodell and Rhoda (Woodell) Creech were residing in Columbus County, North Carolina at the time of William's death. A summons was sent from Robeson County to Columbus County for Charles Woodell, Elisha Creech and wife, Rhoda Creech, in regard to Molsey Woodell's request for dower. Thus, I know that Charles P. and Rhoda (Woodell) Creech were two of the heirs of William Woodell, b. c1795.

I have found a guardianship entry in the Columbus Co., NC Court Minutes which name William's minor children, including Elias P. Woodell, father of James Amos Woodell.

Columbus County Minute Docket, August 1856:
"David Batten is appointed guardian of Elias P. Woodell, Richard Woodell, Rebecca Woodell, and David Woodell, minor children of William Woodell. Upon his entering into bond in the sum of three hundred dollars with John J. Tedder and Brittan S. Jones as his securities. The following justices on the bench and consenting thereto, To wit:
Alfred Smith, Burrel Smith, J. H. Gore, A. F. Powell, A. J. Troy, Isaac Wright, James High, T. L. Vail, J. W. Rouse."

I believe that Elias P. Woodell and the other minor siblings were probably living with their older brother, Charles P. Woodell, they having moved to Columbus County sometime after the 1850 census. However, Charles P. Woodell and sister, Rhoda (Woodell) Creech moved on to Arkansas in 1856, so a guardian in Columbus County was needed for the minor siblings.

At the time of the 1850 census, William Woodell's youngest children were scattered among friends and family in Robeson County. There was a close relationship between William Woodell and Sion Wilkins during the 1840s and young Elias Woodell was living with the Wilkins Family in 1850.

1850 Robeson Co., NC Census:
38/69/69 Cary Wilkins, 23, m, mu, Bricklayer
Dicey " , 63, f, mu
Sion " , 63, m, mu
Margaret " , 30, f, mu
Gainor " , 20, f, mu
(next page)
1/ Frances E. Wilkins, 19, f, mu
Elias Woodell , 13, m, mu

At the time of the 1860 census, Elias was an adult, and having returned from Columbus County he was back in Robeson County and living in the household of his father-in-law, Arch Lowrie (James Archibald Lowrie).

1860 Robeson Co., NC Census:
21/234/234 Arch Lowrie, 35, m, mu
Winnie " , 37, f, mu
Elias Woodell, 25, m, mu
Margaret A. " , 16, f, mu (Elias Woodell m. Margaret Lowrie on 3 May 1860)

Elias and Margaret A. (Lowrie) Woodell had one child; James Amos Woodell, b. c1861. James Amos Woodell (22) m. Nancy Oxendine (19) at the home of James A. Lowrie on 14 April 1883.

Elias Woodell enlisted in Co. D, 18th NC Infantry on 18 May 1861, and was killed in Hanover Courthouse, Va on 27 May 1862. His widow, Margaret, m. Evander Lowery in Robeson County on 3 September 1862. Although James Amos Woodell is listed with Evander and Margaret (Lowrie) Woodell-Lowery in the 1870 census, he is listed with the Lowery surname.

1870 Robeson Co., NC Census:
8/8/9 Evander Lowrey, 57, m, mu
Margaret " , 26, f, mu
James " , 12, m, mu (James Amos Woodell, age in error)
Archy " , 7, m, mu
Zeon " , 5, m, mu
Amandy " , 3, f, mu

By 1880 James Amos had left Evander's household and was living with his grandfather, James A. (Archibald) Lowry.

1880 Robeson Co., NC Census:
James A. Lowry, m, mu, 54
Winniford " , f, white, 56
Amos Woodell, m, white, 19, relationship given: grandson
Rowland Brooks, m, mu, 73
Betsey " , f, mu, 29
Hector " , m, mu, 17
Margaret Locklear, f, mu, 50

1880 Robeson Co., Census:
Evander Lowry, m, mu, 44
Margaret " , f, mu, 35
Neill A. " , m, mu, 18
Sion Ed " , m, mu, 15
Alexander " , m, mu, 12
Winnie Bell Lowry, f, mu, 11
Henry Thomas Lowry, m, mu, 4

I hope this helps someone.

Michael Puckett