The George Earnhart Family

Sometime before or about 1803, Margaret Keppel married George Earnhardt/Earnhart in Cabarrus County, North Carolina. This marriage date is estimated based on the birth of Sara Evelina Earnhart on 14 July 1803; their known first borne child.

Margaret Keppel was born abut 1759 a daughter of Peter Keppel, Sr. and Anna Elizabeth Grobb. She was also a younger sister to Catherine Kepple Dry, my 4th Great Grandmother. 

George Earnhart was borne 9 June 1759, a son of Phillip Earnhart; mother unknown.

George and Margaret had 4 children borne in Rowan County, three of which were baptized there at the Organ Lutheran Church between 1803 and 1809. It is unclear where their son James was borne in 1812.  By 1812, the family had relocated to Bedford County, Tennessee. 

In an affidavit, dated 26 April 1836,  for a Revolution War Pension, George Earnhart states that he remained [in NC] after the Revolution until about 24 years ago [1812]. I removed into Bedford County State of Tennessee near Shelbyville where I lived about seven years [till 1819] and then removed into this County where I have lived ever since and where I now live [Madison County, Tenn.].

George Earnhart on oath stated that he served two – 3 Month tours of duty but was unable to prove it to the satisfaction of the US Government and was denied the pension he had earned and deserved.

Pension Denial:

George Earnhart in the American Revolutionary War Rejected Pensions
Name: George Earnhart
Location: Jackson, Madison
Reason: Not six months' service.
https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/7469:4329?tid=&pid=&queryId=e0736264bfda252b174132ca2fd7db86&_phsrc=XLy242&_phstart=successSource

I found the birth of five children listed in a Family Bible and in the Organ Lutheran Church minutes; but, Census records show that George had about nine children. Thus its clear that all the children of George and Margaret HAVE NOT been identified.

At the death of Margaret's father, Peter Keppel, Sr. around October 1806 his estate was divided among the children. Margaret and her husband George Earnhart along with her other siblings are named within this Land Deed (DB 6, Pg 168).   

Page 168 
Know all men by these presents that I george Earenhart in wright of My Wife Margaret & I John Grub in wright of my Wife Elizabeth & I Martin dry in wright of My wife Catharine & I Henry  Kapple & Killian Kapple and Peter Kapple all of us lawfull Heirs & Legatees of Peter Kapple Deceased have Remised Released & forever quit claim for us our Heirs Execs Admins & by these presents do remise Release & forever quit Claim unto John Kapple of all that parcel of land Lying & being in the County of Cabarrus & State of No. Carolina & on the waters of little dutch Buffalow Creek…

By 1812, the Earnharts were in Bedford County, Tennessee. On 23 March 1815, George Earnhart purchased from Oliver B. Hays a 1000 acre tract of land along the Duck Rivers, about two miles south of the Mouth Falling Creek for twelve hundred dollars.

By 1819, George and Margaret were in Madison County which was short lived and back in Bedford in 1820.  

1820 CENSUS:

The 1820 Household of George and Margaret shows the two to be 45+ years of age (born bef 1775)  with the following children:

2 Males under 10;

2 Males age 10-15;

1 Male age 16-25;

2 Female ages 10-15

3 Female 16-25

That 10 Children and their parents in the George EARNHART household in 1820
Total Free White Persons: 12

1830 CENSUS

The 1830 Household of George and Margaret Earnhart has them and the following children:

1 male age 60-69 >> George Earnhart 

1 female age 50-59 >> Margaret (Keppel) Earnhart 

2 males age 15-19;

1 male age 20-29;

1 Female age 10-14;

3 Female 20-19;

1840 CENSUS:

The 1840 Census shows George and hi wife, whom I perceived to be Margaret Keppel Earnhart.

1840 CENSUS: Bedford, Tennessee, Page 60B (Stamped), Line 22; Household of George EARNHART; Male, age 70-79; and 1 Female [Wife], age 60-69.

It’s obvious that there are unidentified children belonging to this Couple.

Margaret (Keppel) Earnhart is believed to have died sometime between 1840 and 1850. No record of her death has been found; no tombstone, nor an obituary.  

The children of George and Margaret Keppel Earnhart that have been identified are:

i. Sara Evelina Earnhart was born on 14 Jul 1803 in Rowan County, North Carolina.

ii. Benjamin Earnhart, born 22 Jun 1805, Rowan County, North Carolina; married Harriett ; died bef 6 Nov 1882.

iii. Nancy Earnhart was born on 3 May 1807 in Rowan County, North Carolina.

iv. Daniel Earnhart, born 13 Feb 1809, Rowan County, North Carolina; married Martha; married Ann; died bef 2 Apr 1883.

v. James Earnhart was born on 10 Mar 1812 in Rowan County, North Carolina.

George Earnhart died March 1850, Bedford County, TN. from “OLD AGE”. In this Mortality Census he was listed as age 83. But his Revolutionary War Service Record show's he was born 9 June 1759 making him 90 years of age.

Margaret Keppel/Kepple/Kepley Earnhart/Earnhardt wife of George Earnhart/Earnhardt  is my 4th Great Grand Aunt.  

If you have any information on this family I would love to hear from you and share information.

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1. Ancestry, "Revolutionary War Service Records" database, Military Service Records (https://www.fold3.com : accessed 3 January 2020), entry for George Earnhart, Private; Revolutionary War; America.

2. 1790 U S Census, Rowan County, North Carolina, population schedule, Rowan, North Carolina, Page 318 (penciled), Line 2, Household of George ARENHART [EARNHART]; digital images, Ancestry (www.ancestry.com : viewed 3 January 2020); citing National Archives Microfilm M637.

3. Margaret B. Bost, Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions: April 17, 1797 - April 17, 1805 (Cabarrus Genealogical Society: Self-Published, ©1995.), page 58.

4. Land Deed - Division of the Estate of Peter Kapple Sr.; 8 August 1807; Deed Book #6; Page(s) 168; Register of Deeds; Concord, Cabarrus County, North Carolina; 12 December 2020.

5. Ancestry,Military Service Records, database entry for George Earnhart, Private; Revolutionary War; America.

6. 1820 U. S. Census, Bedford County, Tennessee, population schedule, Bedford, Tennessee, Page 65 (penciled), Line 6;, Household of George EARNHEART; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 3 January 2021); citing National Archives Microfilm M33.

7. George Earnhart, 5 June 1820; Tennessee, U.S., Early Land Registers, 1778-1927, Grant or Warrant Number: 259; Dept. of Archives and History, Nashville,Davidson County, Tennessee.

8. 1830 U. S. Census, Bedford County, Tennessee, population schedule, Bedford, Tennessee, Page 87 (penciled), Line 9, Household of George EARNHART; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 3 January 2021); citing National Archives Microfilm M19_.

9. Land Deed - George Earnhart to his Son Benjamin Earnhart; 18 September 1835; Deed Book #FF; Page(s) 13; Register of Deeds; Shellyville, Bedford County, Tennessee; 10 January 2021.

10. 1840 U. S. Census, Bedford County, Tennessee, population schedule, Bedford, Tennessee, Page 60B (Stamped), Line 22, Household of George EARNHART; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 3 January 2021); citing National Archives Microfilm M19_.

11. 1850 U. S. Census, Bedford County, Tennessee, mortality schedule, Bedford County, Tennessee, Page 27 (Penciled), Line 2, George EARNHART; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : viewed 3 January 2021); citing National Archives Microfilm MRT573_2304.

12. Tennessee State Library and Archives, Tennessee State Library and Archives, Tennessee Bible Records (https://tnsos.net/TSLA/Bibleproject/browse.php?keyword=0&alpha=E&level=bible&option=all : viewed, download 3 December 2020), FAMILY BIBLE_GEORGE EARNHART, Earnhart 1.pdf, 14 July 1803–10 March 1812.

13. Ancestry,Military Service Records, database entry for George Earnhart, Private; Revolutionary War; America.

14. Land Deed - Division of the Estate of Peter Kapple Sr.; 8 August 1807; Deed Book # 6; page(s)168.