POWELL FAMILY
20th ANNUAL REUNION
LABOR DAY WEEKEND
SUNDAY, AUGUST 31, 2003- THE BIG PICNIC AT 12 NOON
WATTS BAR PICNIC PAVILION (WATTS BAR DAM).
Bring a covered dish, lawn chairs, old pictures, family records,
genealogy information to share.
*For those of you who need directions to
WATTS BAR DAM, take Exit #60 from I-75. This is Highway 68 North
– toward Spring City approximately 17 ½ miles from I-75. The
picnic pavilion is on the right just before you cross Watts Bar Dam.
Watch for the red, white and blue sign.*
There will be some of the Powell’s staying in the cottages at Watts
Bar Resort beginning on Friday through Monday morning of Labor Day weekend.
We enjoy visiting with relatives during the time before Sunday and Sunday
evening after the big day. You are welcome to visit us during
this time. The location for the Sunday festivities is a change from
prior years.
This Powell family consists of the descendants of Joseph and Mary Ann
Summer Powell of the Pine Orchard Community, Morgan County, Tennessee.
Rhodes and Nancy Hodge Powell were the parents of Joseph Powell.
Joe’s children were Charlie, Ernest, Frankie, John, Levi, Rube and Vesta.
We have also expanded to other Powell descendants also originally from
Pine Orchard. All Powell’s and friends of the Powell’s are invited
to attend the reunion. We usually have 5 generations attending the
big picnic on Sunday. There are only 6 in the oldest generation still
living. The oldest is Charles Vigle Johnson, age 96, who lives in
California.
We also have descendants of “other Powell’s” (10-12 sets)
attending who are working on their genealogy and everyone is sharing information.
Tom Powell has been traveling the past few months and has some new information
regarding our ancestors – Rhodes Powell. He also has some surprises
for us.
For more information contact;
Virginia Shortt Brown, Knoxville, TN
E-mail at vbrown@covhlth.com
865-688-2460 or 1-888-349-7242
RHODES POWELL FAMILY HISTORY
*
Rhodes and Nancy Hodge Powell were in Roane County, Tennessee as early as 1830. They
received their land grant in Morgan County through Tennessee Land Grant No. 29094. They took possession of the land on April 7, 1854.
Rhodes Powell (Mar 26, 1803/Nov 6, 1884) married
Nancy Hodge (July 5, 1810/Sep 9, 1884).
Both Rhodes and Nancy are buried at Pine Orchard. Rhodes'
tombstone has "An honest man is the noblest work of God" and Nancy's tombstone has "Jesus loves the pure and
holy".
Twins were born to Rhodes and Nancy - Ann
Elizabeth and Joseph, born Mar 29, 1842. Joseph
died July 13, 1927. Ann also died in 1927 before Joseph with
both buried at Pine Orchard.
Joseph married on Oct 27,1870 Mary Ann (Polly)
Summer (Feb 12, 1852/Mar 31, 1939) also buried at Pine Orchard with one big
tombstone for Joseph, his wife, and his sister. They were married in Mount Pisgah Baptist Church on Oct 27, 1870. To
this union were born Charles Henry (Dec 2, 1872/Dec 15, 1949) who married Ruth
Farmer; John H. (1873-1942 who married Eliza Snow; Levi Stanton (1874-1944) who
married Harriett McGuffey; Vesta M. (1876-1955) never married; Reubin J.
(1877-1936) who married Linnie Stone; Arlenia Frances (1879-1968) who married
Joseph Johnson; and David Ernest (1886-1978) who married Emma Alley.
In addition to the twins, Joseph and Ann Elizabeth;
there were six other children - Martha, William L, Garrett Stanton, Louise J,
Mary C and Rhodes Gambil Powell, Jr.
The Historical Research Center
Family Name History
POWELL
The English surname Powell is of patronymic origin, belonging to that
category of surnames derived from the forename of the original bearer's
father. In this instance, the
surname Powell can be traced to the personal name Paul which is ultimately
derived from the Latin Paulus meaning "small" which has always been
popular in Christendom. It was the
name adopted by the Pharisee Saul of Tarsus after his
conversion to Christianity on the road to Damascus. He was a most energetic missionary to
the gentiles in the Roman Empire, and perhaps played a more significant role than any other of Christ's
followers in establishing Christianity as a major world religion. Early written references to the name
include one Henry Powel and Geoffrey Powel who are both recorded in the Hundred
Rolls of London and Cambridgeshire in 1273 respectively. John Powell or Powle was recorded
as a student in the registers of Oxford University in 1532. The surname
Powell can also be found in Wales where it is derived from the personal name Howel or Hywel meaning
"Eminent" which is prefixed with the Welsh prefix "Ap"
meaning "son of".
Early references in this case include one John ap Howell, prebendery of
St. David's Church in 1554 and John Appowel appears in the Valor
Ecclesiasticus. Finally, the
surname Powell may also be of locative origin, being derived from the place
where the original bearer once lived or held land. In this case, the surname Powell
signifies "one who lived by or near the powel" as "powel"
here is derived from a term meaning "pool". Early records include one Jordan de
Powella who is recorded in the Pipe Rolls of Warwickshire in 1184 and Ralph
atte Powel appears in the Court Rolls of the Abbey of Ramsey in Huntingdonshire
in 1288.
BLAZON OF ARMS: Argent, a cross flory engrailed sable between four Cornish choughs
proper, on a chief azure of a boar's head couped argent, tusked or, langued
gules.
CREST: A talbot's head couped proper.
MOTTO: Inter hastas et hostes.
TRANSLATION: Among spears and enemies.
ORIGIN: ENGLAND
Photos
from 2002 Reunion
Photos
from 2001 Reunion
Return to PHOTO INDEX
Back to REUNIONS PAGE