Some people apparently do not know who this woman was. They claim that her married name (Elizabeth Back), on two land deeds (in 1823 and 1831), and in the 1815 Tax List, is Elizabeth Hoffman Back, the wife of Henry Back (1741-1809). But that was another woman.
This woman, Elizabeth Pennington Back, was the daughter of Abel Pennington and his wife Christina (whose first husband may have been Barnabas Roark). But Christina had died, when Elizabeth was young. Elizabeth Pennington was born in South Carolina. In 1804, when she was nine years old, she, her father, and her siblings, migrated to southeastern Kentucky, and they settled along the Poor Fork of the Cumberland River.
In 1809, when she was just 14 years old, Elizabeth Pennington had an affair with Andrew Cope, who lived down the road. She got pregnant and she gave birth to a little girl she named Elizabeth, in 1810. The problem was…Andrew Cope was married, and he had three children, and so there was quite a scandal.
Shortly after that little girl was born, Andrew Cope and his family left Kentucky, because of the scandal and embarrassment. But he said that Elizabeth could live on 100 acres of his land, along the Poor Fork of the Cumberland River.
Meanwhile, over in Virginia, Lewis Back (1787-1865), who was the son of Henry Back (1741-1809) and Elizabeth Hoffman Back (1746-1816), had left his home in Madison County, Virginia, after his father had died in 1809, and he moved down to Russell County, Virginia, to live with his cousin John Back (1774-1853) and his wife Catherine Robertson. (Lewis' father Henry was a brother to John Back's father Joseph.)
When John Back, his wife Catherine, and their children, left Russell County, Virginia, in the fall of 1810, and moved to southeastern Kentucky, Lewis Back went with them. They all settled along the Poor Fork of the Cumberland River.
Elizabeth Pennington soon met Lewis Back. They got married on June 22, 1812. Lewis then adopted Elizabeth's little, illegitimate daughter, and he raised her as his own.
In 1815, Elizabeth was seen in the Tax List, in Knox County, KY, still living on that 100 acres that Andrew Cope had let her live on, and so Andrew Cope's name was seen in the far right column as owning that land. Elizabeth's husband, Lewis Back, was listed next to her. So, Lewis was living with Elizabeth, on that 100 acres of land that Andrew Cope had let Elizabeth live on,
Also seen on that 1815 Tax List were Lewis' two cousins, John Back (1774-1853) and his brother Henry Back (1785-1871). John and Henry's father, Joseph Back (1745-1819), was a brother to Lewis' father Henry Back (1743-1809). At that time, in 1815, John Back was sharecropping 175 acres that was owned by Thomas Robertson, who was the brother of his wife Catherine Robertson. Mr. Robertson's name was seen in the far right column as owning that land. John back later bought that land from Mr. Robertson, on 11-17-1817. That 1815 Tax List is attached to this memorial.
In the summer of 1823, Andrew Cope returned to Kentucky for a visit, and he deeded that 100 acres, over to Elizabeth, on August 9, 1823. It was probably his way of apologizing to her for getting her pregnant. The two witnesses to that deed were John Back (1774-1853) and his wife Catherine Robertson, and they certified the transaction in 1825. That deed is attached to this memorial.
On December 10, 1831, Elizabeth deeded that 100 acres, over to her husband Lewis Back. They were both living there, and she apparently just wanted the property in his name. That deed is also attached to this memorial. That deed was witnessed by Samuel Maggard (1774-1855), who was the longtime best friend of John Back (1774-1853), who was the cousin and close friend of Elizabeth's husband Lewis Back. Other witnesses were Rudolph Maggard (1799-1876), who was a son of Samuel Maggard (1774-1855); William Jenkins, who was probably William "Old Billy" Jenkins (1783-1842), who was probably a friend of Lewis and Elizabeth; Henry Back (1785-1871), who was a brother to John Back (1774-1853); and Henry's wife Susannah Maggard Back, who was a daughter of Samuel Maggard (1774-1855), and a sister of Rudolph Maggard.
In 1850, Lewis and his wife Elizabeth, and their two daughters (Rebecca and Katherine), and their daughters' husbands, migrated out to the Ozark Mountains. It is not believed that Elizabeth's illegitimate daughter Elizabeth went with them. She apparently got married in Harlan County and remained there.
On November 10, 1858, Elizabeth Pennington Back bought 80 acres in McDonald County, Missouri. (Her husband Lewis Back must have been in very bad health by then, because he didn't buy it.) They lived near the town of Honey Creek. Lewis and Elizabeth died there, sometime between 1860 and 1870.
This woman, Elizabeth Pennington Back, was the daughter of Abel Pennington and his wife Christina (whose first husband may have been Barnabas Roark). But Christina had died, when Elizabeth was young. Elizabeth Pennington was born in South Carolina. In 1804, when she was nine years old, she, her father, and her siblings, migrated to southeastern Kentucky, and they settled along the Poor Fork of the Cumberland River.
In 1809, when she was just 14 years old, Elizabeth Pennington had an affair with Andrew Cope, who lived down the road. She got pregnant and she gave birth to a little girl she named Elizabeth, in 1810. The problem was…Andrew Cope was married, and he had three children, and so there was quite a scandal.
Shortly after that little girl was born, Andrew Cope and his family left Kentucky, because of the scandal and embarrassment. But he said that Elizabeth could live on 100 acres of his land, along the Poor Fork of the Cumberland River.
Meanwhile, over in Virginia, Lewis Back (1787-1865), who was the son of Henry Back (1741-1809) and Elizabeth Hoffman Back (1746-1816), had left his home in Madison County, Virginia, after his father had died in 1809, and he moved down to Russell County, Virginia, to live with his cousin John Back (1774-1853) and his wife Catherine Robertson. (Lewis' father Henry was a brother to John Back's father Joseph.)
When John Back, his wife Catherine, and their children, left Russell County, Virginia, in the fall of 1810, and moved to southeastern Kentucky, Lewis Back went with them. They all settled along the Poor Fork of the Cumberland River.
Elizabeth Pennington soon met Lewis Back. They got married on June 22, 1812. Lewis then adopted Elizabeth's little, illegitimate daughter, and he raised her as his own.
In 1815, Elizabeth was seen in the Tax List, in Knox County, KY, still living on that 100 acres that Andrew Cope had let her live on, and so Andrew Cope's name was seen in the far right column as owning that land. Elizabeth's husband, Lewis Back, was listed next to her. So, Lewis was living with Elizabeth, on that 100 acres of land that Andrew Cope had let Elizabeth live on,
Also seen on that 1815 Tax List were Lewis' two cousins, John Back (1774-1853) and his brother Henry Back (1785-1871). John and Henry's father, Joseph Back (1745-1819), was a brother to Lewis' father Henry Back (1743-1809). At that time, in 1815, John Back was sharecropping 175 acres that was owned by Thomas Robertson, who was the brother of his wife Catherine Robertson. Mr. Robertson's name was seen in the far right column as owning that land. John back later bought that land from Mr. Robertson, on 11-17-1817. That 1815 Tax List is attached to this memorial.
In the summer of 1823, Andrew Cope returned to Kentucky for a visit, and he deeded that 100 acres, over to Elizabeth, on August 9, 1823. It was probably his way of apologizing to her for getting her pregnant. The two witnesses to that deed were John Back (1774-1853) and his wife Catherine Robertson, and they certified the transaction in 1825. That deed is attached to this memorial.
On December 10, 1831, Elizabeth deeded that 100 acres, over to her husband Lewis Back. They were both living there, and she apparently just wanted the property in his name. That deed is also attached to this memorial. That deed was witnessed by Samuel Maggard (1774-1855), who was the longtime best friend of John Back (1774-1853), who was the cousin and close friend of Elizabeth's husband Lewis Back. Other witnesses were Rudolph Maggard (1799-1876), who was a son of Samuel Maggard (1774-1855); William Jenkins, who was probably William "Old Billy" Jenkins (1783-1842), who was probably a friend of Lewis and Elizabeth; Henry Back (1785-1871), who was a brother to John Back (1774-1853); and Henry's wife Susannah Maggard Back, who was a daughter of Samuel Maggard (1774-1855), and a sister of Rudolph Maggard.
In 1850, Lewis and his wife Elizabeth, and their two daughters (Rebecca and Katherine), and their daughters' husbands, migrated out to the Ozark Mountains. It is not believed that Elizabeth's illegitimate daughter Elizabeth went with them. She apparently got married in Harlan County and remained there.
On November 10, 1858, Elizabeth Pennington Back bought 80 acres in McDonald County, Missouri. (Her husband Lewis Back must have been in very bad health by then, because he didn't buy it.) They lived near the town of Honey Creek. Lewis and Elizabeth died there, sometime between 1860 and 1870.
Some people apparently do not know who this woman was. They claim that her married name (Elizabeth Back), on two land deeds (in 1823 and 1831), and in the 1815 Tax List, is Elizabeth Hoffman Back, the wife of Henry Back (1741-1809). But that was another woman.
This woman, Elizabeth Pennington Back, was the daughter of Abel Pennington and his wife Christina (whose first husband may have been Barnabas Roark). But Christina had died, when Elizabeth was young. Elizabeth Pennington was born in South Carolina. In 1804, when she was nine years old, she, her father, and her siblings, migrated to southeastern Kentucky, and they settled along the Poor Fork of the Cumberland River.
In 1809, when she was just 14 years old, Elizabeth Pennington had an affair with Andrew Cope, who lived down the road. She got pregnant and she gave birth to a little girl she named Elizabeth, in 1810. The problem was…Andrew Cope was married, and he had three children, and so there was quite a scandal.
Shortly after that little girl was born, Andrew Cope and his family left Kentucky, because of the scandal and embarrassment. But he said that Elizabeth could live on 100 acres of his land, along the Poor Fork of the Cumberland River.
Meanwhile, over in Virginia, Lewis Back (1787-1865), who was the son of Henry Back (1741-1809) and Elizabeth Hoffman Back (1746-1816), had left his home in Madison County, Virginia, after his father had died in 1809, and he moved down to Russell County, Virginia, to live with his cousin John Back (1774-1853) and his wife Catherine Robertson. (Lewis' father Henry was a brother to John Back's father Joseph.)
When John Back, his wife Catherine, and their children, left Russell County, Virginia, in the fall of 1810, and moved to southeastern Kentucky, Lewis Back went with them. They all settled along the Poor Fork of the Cumberland River.
Elizabeth Pennington soon met Lewis Back. They got married on June 22, 1812. Lewis then adopted Elizabeth's little, illegitimate daughter, and he raised her as his own.
In 1815, Elizabeth was seen in the Tax List, in Knox County, KY, still living on that 100 acres that Andrew Cope had let her live on, and so Andrew Cope's name was seen in the far right column as owning that land. Elizabeth's husband, Lewis Back, was listed next to her. So, Lewis was living with Elizabeth, on that 100 acres of land that Andrew Cope had let Elizabeth live on,
Also seen on that 1815 Tax List were Lewis' two cousins, John Back (1774-1853) and his brother Henry Back (1785-1871). John and Henry's father, Joseph Back (1745-1819), was a brother to Lewis' father Henry Back (1743-1809). At that time, in 1815, John Back was sharecropping 175 acres that was owned by Thomas Robertson, who was the brother of his wife Catherine Robertson. Mr. Robertson's name was seen in the far right column as owning that land. John back later bought that land from Mr. Robertson, on 11-17-1817. That 1815 Tax List is attached to this memorial.
In the summer of 1823, Andrew Cope returned to Kentucky for a visit, and he deeded that 100 acres, over to Elizabeth, on August 9, 1823. It was probably his way of apologizing to her for getting her pregnant. The two witnesses to that deed were John Back (1774-1853) and his wife Catherine Robertson, and they certified the transaction in 1825. That deed is attached to this memorial.
On December 10, 1831, Elizabeth deeded that 100 acres, over to her husband Lewis Back. They were both living there, and she apparently just wanted the property in his name. That deed is also attached to this memorial. That deed was witnessed by Samuel Maggard (1774-1855), who was the longtime best friend of John Back (1774-1853), who was the cousin and close friend of Elizabeth's husband Lewis Back. Other witnesses were Rudolph Maggard (1799-1876), who was a son of Samuel Maggard (1774-1855); William Jenkins, who was probably William "Old Billy" Jenkins (1783-1842), who was probably a friend of Lewis and Elizabeth; Henry Back (1785-1871), who was a brother to John Back (1774-1853); and Henry's wife Susannah Maggard Back, who was a daughter of Samuel Maggard (1774-1855), and a sister of Rudolph Maggard.
In 1850, Lewis and his wife Elizabeth, and their two daughters (Rebecca and Katherine), and their daughters' husbands, migrated out to the Ozark Mountains. It is not believed that Elizabeth's illegitimate daughter Elizabeth went with them. She apparently got married in Harlan County and remained there.
On November 10, 1858, Elizabeth Pennington Back bought 80 acres in McDonald County, Missouri. (Her husband Lewis Back must have been in very bad health by then, because he didn't buy it.) They lived near the town of Honey Creek. Lewis and Elizabeth died there, sometime between 1860 and 1870.
This woman, Elizabeth Pennington Back, was the daughter of Abel Pennington and his wife Christina (whose first husband may have been Barnabas Roark). But Christina had died, when Elizabeth was young. Elizabeth Pennington was born in South Carolina. In 1804, when she was nine years old, she, her father, and her siblings, migrated to southeastern Kentucky, and they settled along the Poor Fork of the Cumberland River.
In 1809, when she was just 14 years old, Elizabeth Pennington had an affair with Andrew Cope, who lived down the road. She got pregnant and she gave birth to a little girl she named Elizabeth, in 1810. The problem was…Andrew Cope was married, and he had three children, and so there was quite a scandal.
Shortly after that little girl was born, Andrew Cope and his family left Kentucky, because of the scandal and embarrassment. But he said that Elizabeth could live on 100 acres of his land, along the Poor Fork of the Cumberland River.
Meanwhile, over in Virginia, Lewis Back (1787-1865), who was the son of Henry Back (1741-1809) and Elizabeth Hoffman Back (1746-1816), had left his home in Madison County, Virginia, after his father had died in 1809, and he moved down to Russell County, Virginia, to live with his cousin John Back (1774-1853) and his wife Catherine Robertson. (Lewis' father Henry was a brother to John Back's father Joseph.)
When John Back, his wife Catherine, and their children, left Russell County, Virginia, in the fall of 1810, and moved to southeastern Kentucky, Lewis Back went with them. They all settled along the Poor Fork of the Cumberland River.
Elizabeth Pennington soon met Lewis Back. They got married on June 22, 1812. Lewis then adopted Elizabeth's little, illegitimate daughter, and he raised her as his own.
In 1815, Elizabeth was seen in the Tax List, in Knox County, KY, still living on that 100 acres that Andrew Cope had let her live on, and so Andrew Cope's name was seen in the far right column as owning that land. Elizabeth's husband, Lewis Back, was listed next to her. So, Lewis was living with Elizabeth, on that 100 acres of land that Andrew Cope had let Elizabeth live on,
Also seen on that 1815 Tax List were Lewis' two cousins, John Back (1774-1853) and his brother Henry Back (1785-1871). John and Henry's father, Joseph Back (1745-1819), was a brother to Lewis' father Henry Back (1743-1809). At that time, in 1815, John Back was sharecropping 175 acres that was owned by Thomas Robertson, who was the brother of his wife Catherine Robertson. Mr. Robertson's name was seen in the far right column as owning that land. John back later bought that land from Mr. Robertson, on 11-17-1817. That 1815 Tax List is attached to this memorial.
In the summer of 1823, Andrew Cope returned to Kentucky for a visit, and he deeded that 100 acres, over to Elizabeth, on August 9, 1823. It was probably his way of apologizing to her for getting her pregnant. The two witnesses to that deed were John Back (1774-1853) and his wife Catherine Robertson, and they certified the transaction in 1825. That deed is attached to this memorial.
On December 10, 1831, Elizabeth deeded that 100 acres, over to her husband Lewis Back. They were both living there, and she apparently just wanted the property in his name. That deed is also attached to this memorial. That deed was witnessed by Samuel Maggard (1774-1855), who was the longtime best friend of John Back (1774-1853), who was the cousin and close friend of Elizabeth's husband Lewis Back. Other witnesses were Rudolph Maggard (1799-1876), who was a son of Samuel Maggard (1774-1855); William Jenkins, who was probably William "Old Billy" Jenkins (1783-1842), who was probably a friend of Lewis and Elizabeth; Henry Back (1785-1871), who was a brother to John Back (1774-1853); and Henry's wife Susannah Maggard Back, who was a daughter of Samuel Maggard (1774-1855), and a sister of Rudolph Maggard.
In 1850, Lewis and his wife Elizabeth, and their two daughters (Rebecca and Katherine), and their daughters' husbands, migrated out to the Ozark Mountains. It is not believed that Elizabeth's illegitimate daughter Elizabeth went with them. She apparently got married in Harlan County and remained there.
On November 10, 1858, Elizabeth Pennington Back bought 80 acres in McDonald County, Missouri. (Her husband Lewis Back must have been in very bad health by then, because he didn't buy it.) They lived near the town of Honey Creek. Lewis and Elizabeth died there, sometime between 1860 and 1870.
Family Members
Advertisement
See more Back or Pennington memorials in:
- Find a Grave Back or Pennington
Advertisement
