CASWELL CONNECTIONS   GENEALOGY of the Friends and Relatives of GOVERNOR RICHARD CASWELL Including the families of Martin Caswell James McIlwean John Gatlin Benjamin Sheppard William Herritage John Lovick John Washington Simon Bright     Compiled by Clair R. Hadley July 2007 Printed and Bound in Oak Hill, VA. This volume is a not-for-profit publication. Permission is granted to reproduce the research contained in this book. The authors request that the title, author, and compiler be cited when reference is made to the material herein.           INTRODUCTION   To commemorate Governor Richard Caswell, on the occasion of the Richard Caswell Celebration Week, Aug.12-19th 2007, in Kinston, NC, several researchers have pooled their information to present a book centering on the history and genealogy of families closely associated with Governor Caswell. While a considerable body of information exists on Caswell's career as a public servant, less is known of the families that touched his life. Who did his children marry? What impact did those families have in the fabric of society during that most interesting era in the history of North Carolina? It is hoped that these histories will broaden the rich tapestry of life surrounding the first Governor and serve to honor his memory. There were no restrictions placed on content, length, style, referencing or formatting. This allowed the contributors the freedom to present material in whatever manner they saw fit, and the result is pleasing in its variety. The genealogies included here span anywhere from two to four generations. It was felt that, for the purpose of this book, we should concentrate on the timeframe of Governor Caswell's life. However, the contributors have given permission for people to contact them for further information. Perhaps this effort will inspire others to submit family histories to the museum, and thus expand our knowledge of the Caswell era.         ACKNOWLEDGMENTS First, a heartfelt thanks to the authors for responding so quickly and with such enthusiasm to the idea of presenting a book in time for the celebration, and for taking time from their busy schedules to compile and donate their research to make this gift to the Caswell Museum. Francis is busy as a professor of History at Southern Florida College, and Sue and Patty also work full time. One finds Ila Grey guiding tours at Tryon Palace, dressed as a gracious Colonial dame, and Martha, of course, is busy sorting out everyone who has ever had a relative in eastern North Carolina. Ruth, a fine genealogist of the old school, deserves special praise for tackling and conquering the demon computer! Now she promises, with new confidence, that her treasured research will be put onto her hard drive in printable form. We all owe a huge debt of gratitude to the Lenoir County Colonial Commission for conceiving of the idea to celebrate Richard Caswell with a week of spectacular events, to shine Historys light upon the father of North Carolina as never before. Many wondrous things have evolved from this undertaking the first published biography of the public life of Caswell, the discovery of little known Caswell artifacts, newly discovered Caswell descendants, and an exciting development which may determine, once and for all, the exact location of Caswell's grave. I want to make special mention of Martha Marble, and not just for her generous support in getting the project of compiling this book off the ground. Martha stays far from the limelight, but she is the source to whom we all turn for information, knowledge, and wise advice- doled out with alacrity and humor. Ask Martha and ye shall receive! We who love genealogy are lucky to have such a friend and mentor. To my husband Don who understands, appreciates, and helps in countless ways, my gratitude and love. Finally, a note of thanks to Bob Taylor of All forms Publishing in High Point, NC. When I told Bob I needed only a few laminated covers for this project, he said just send them along and he would be pleased to do the covers gratisjust a small way to honor the governor, he said. That has been the beauty of the Richard Caswell Celebration Week; groups and individuals joining together and giving of their talents to celebrate a great patriot, the Father of our State Richard Caswell Clair R. Hadley     TABLE OF CONTENTS     Martin Caswell brother of Richard Caswell Submitted by Clair R. Hadley   James McIlwean father in law of Gov. Richard Caswell Submitted by Ila McIlwean White, Earl C. McIlwean, Jr. Clair R. Hadley   John Gatlin 1st husband of Caswell's daughter Susannah Submitted by Sue Guptill   Benjamin Sheppard father in law of Caswell's son John Submitted by Ruth Blount Fentress   William Herritage father in law of Gov. Richard Caswell Submitted by Patricia Ann Robinson Day   John Lovick 2nd husband of Caswell's daughter Susannah Submitted by Patricia Ann Robinson Day   John Washington friend of Caswell's children Submitted by Martha Mewborn Marble   Simon Bright friend of Richard Caswell Submitted by Francis R. Hodges         2     71       124     138     182     186     194     236   CONTACT THE AUTHORS   July 2007     Clair R. Hadley donandclair@verizon.net   Ila McIlwean White igw@earthlink.net   Earl C. McIlwean mcilwean@rockymount.com   Sue Guptill sguptill@mindspring.com   Ruth Blount Fentress ruthbf@erols.com   Patricia Ann (Robinson) Day genealogyday@yahoo.com http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~paday/dobbers   Francis R. Hodges fhodges@flsouthern.edu Caswell Family Pages Home