John Reuben PONDER

Other Events:

• _UID: 6789901C18DD432D9FC3683F5A4CE86D0516

Notes:

!Source: Jerry Ponder's "Life of Abner Ponder," p 18
Reuben and Thomas Ponder, brothers, left Elbert Co, Georgia about 1808
and both served in the War of 1812, fighting at the Battle of New
Orleans. Both
were in MS by 1814 (tax list) and in Pike Co, MS, by the time of the
1816 state
census. They appear in the 1820 Pike Co Census and by 1840 were in
the Marion
Co, MS, census. They well may have never moved as Marion Co. was
cut from Pike
County. Shortly after 1820 Reubin moved to Rankin Co, MS, where he
raised a
large family and has many descendants today throughout the South.

!Reuben Ponder purchased 40 acres of land in Rankin Co on Aug 27,
1835, Section
13, townshipo 4, range 4

John married Sarah HOLBROOK in Aug 1807 in VA. Sarah (daughter of Edy HOLBROOK and Charity ROBERTS) was born about 1788 in North Carolina; died on 2 Sep 1863 in Simpson County, Mississippi; was buried in Floyds Cem, Everett Comm, Simpson Co, MS. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. William PONDER and died.
2. Thomas Pinckney PONDER was born in 1808 in Elbert County, Georgia; died after 1850 in Rankin County Mississippi; was buried in Rankin County Mississippi.
3. Elizabeth "Betsy" PONDER was born in 1809 in Marion County, Mississippi; died in 1880 in Tennessee.
4. Amos C. PONDER was born about 1815 in Mississippi; died about 1880 in Wayne Co?, MS.
5. Fleming Green PONDER was born in 1816 in Mississippi; died in 1856 in Four Mills, MO.
6. Abner J. PONDER was born about 1826 in Simpson County, Mississippi; and died.
7. James Madison Matt PONDER was born on 27 Feb 1826 in Rankin County Mississippi; died on 7 Sep 1913 in Rankin County Mississippi; was buried in County Line Cem, Rankin Co, Mississippi.

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• FamilySearch ID: KNQ3-G53
• Reference Number: 40
• _UID: 3725D6778CB844C3B945A42927A0FA31B146

Notes:

!The relationship of Abner Jefferson Ponder to Daniel Ponder has not been proven as of this date 19 aug 1991. This appears to be a good guess for a wide variety of reasons, some of which will be explained below.

!The first known record of Abner Jefferson Ponder, born 1755, seems to be about 1781 when he fought in the Rev. War, probably at King's Mountain and Cowpens in SC. There have been several theories as to who Abner's father was; many serious Ponder researchers, including myself, have concluded that Daniel Ponder and Jemima Bennett were his parents.
Others have speculated that he was born in Baden, Germany, and migrated to the USD before 1780. Spence and Spence in their book, "A History of Hickman County, Tennessee," published in 1900 state that Abner J.Ponder was born in Germany in 1755. This possibility is supported by two other facts. The first is a letter written by Abner J. Ponder's grandson, Col. Abner Jefferson Ponder, dated 27 Jan 1904 from Doniphan, MO, to a Mr. Joseph Brown in Delaware in which the grandson writes that his grandfather was of (Dutch) German descent.
A second supporting fact is that in 1832 a large family named Ponder led by Valentine and William Ponder, came from Baden Germany, and settled in MO along the MS River and near many of the descendents of Abner J. Ponder. This could be coincidence since many other German families settled in the same area at that time.
None of these possibilities have been proven or disproved. So, to date, Abner Jefferson Ponder's life before 1781 remains a mystery. There seems to be no ties between the Ponder name and the English family names of Pounder, Pinder, or Pender except as misspelling by clerks and record keepers.
After the Rev. War it is known that Abner J. Ponder was in Virginia, furthering the possibility that he was the son of Daniel and Jemima Bennett Ponder who lived for a time at Buffalo Gap, Virginia. John Reuben Ponder, a son of Abner, was born in Virginia in 1785. Soon after, however, Abner J. Ponder was known to have been in Abvbeyville Co, SC, and by 1787 was in Elbert Co, GA. His second son, Thomas Ponder, was born in GA in 1787 or 1788. It is believed that Abner J. Ponder was back in Abbeyville Co, SC in 1790 and then back in Elbert Co, GA by 1791.
"Abner" was a very common name in the Ponder family. The Abner Ponder who
married James Knox and lived in SC and GA is often confused with Abner Jefferson Ponder, but that Abner seems to have been Abner Jefferson Ponder's
nephew, although that has not been proven either.
By 1806 Abner J. Ponder had moved his family to Hickman County, TN. An
account of this move if given in "A History of Hickman Co, TN," which tells of
Abner's settling at Bon Aqua Springs. In was in this account that Abner Jefferson was reportedly born in Germany. (See "The Family of Abner Ponder,"
compiled by Jerry Ponder and Eldon Dow Vandiver, 1989, published by Ponder
Books of Doniophan, MO, for a more extensive account of this move and for
additional information on Abner Jefferson.
While it has long been believed that Abner Jefferson was a Rev. War veteran, it was not until 1988/89 that Jerry Ponder, a descendant of Abner Jeffgerson, and the primary author of "The Life of Abner Jefferson Ponder," clearly proved his Revolutionary War service. On October 6, 1989, the Tennessee Daughters of the Revolution dedicated a grave marker to Abner Jefferson Ponder, a Revolutionary War veteran. Jerry Ponder of MO, Pat Saupe of Indiana, Catherine and Thomas C. Ponder of Texas, among others, attended this moving event. Pat Saupe provided me pictures of the guests and of the cemetery and headstone. Pictures of the event, including the headstone, appear in Jerry Ponder's "Life of Abner Jefferson Ponder." A twenty-year genealogical search had finally culminated in identifying most of Abner's descendants with the family history and clearly establishingh the war record of our progenitor.

In the census of 1830, Hickman Co, TN, page 62 we find Abner Ponder and Archibald Ponder. They also appear in the 1832 Census of Hickman Co, Tn.2

Abner married Jane GREEN? before 1785 in Buffalo Gap, Augusta Co, Virginia. Jane was born about 1770; died about 1791 in GA?. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Reference Number: 41
• _UID: B933E45C9C9B4BC4BD64881DA0C040946CB5

Notes:

!Source: Article appearing in the Hickman County Times, 13 Dec 1990, upon the dedication of the Ponder Cemetery in Bon Aqua Springs, Hickman Co, TN, where Rev. War Veteran of SC Militia, Abner J. Ponder, is buried. On this occasion a Veteran headstone, marking Abner as a Rev. War Veteran, was placed in the Cemetery where Abner was buried.

Jerry Ponder of MO provided me with land plats from SC. After the Rev. War Col. Robt Anderson was given quite a tract of land to grant to members of his Regiment. One of Abner's plots given in 1783/84 was in the Ninety Six District, just North of Abbeyville District, near the present day town of Anderson, SC. Living near to Abner's grant in the Ninety Six District was Benjamin Green. Then living near Abner's grant in the Abbeyville District was Robert Green. These two Greens must have been in Col. Anderson's Regt in the Rev War and are most likely related to Abner's first wife, Jane Green. Members of the Green family moved to Hickman Co, TN, and lived next to Abner Ponder and some of them moved on to Ripley Co, MS, with Abner's descendents.

Along with Abner, James, Amos, and John Ponder were all given Rev. War land
grants by Col. Anderson. They all settled on good lands very near to each other in SC which means that they were probably brothers. It is almost certain that John Ponder was the son of Danield Ponder who m Jemina Bennett.
There has been no proof thart the others, including Abner, were Daniel and
Jemina's sons, but all evidence points that way.

Abner had plenty of land, but didn't seem to settle down until he got to Bon Aqua, TN. He was in the Rev War until 1781 then was granted land in Ninety Six District in 1784. He was in virginia briefly and was there in 1785 as Reuben was born there. Then in l1786 he received a grant in Abbeyville Districrt, but in 1787 or 1788 he was in Georgia, as Thomas was born there. His grant in SC was almost on the bank of the Savannah River, so actually all he had to do to move from SC to GA was to cross the river. He may have had land and businesses on both sides of the river.

Other Events:

• FamilySearch ID: LCJD-682
• Reference Number: 80
• _UID: 9012B7DD153943049243DBC0FAB2F82403D3

Notes:

!Pat Saupe of Moore's Hill, Indiana, feels that Daniel and Jemina
Ponder
may be the parents of Abner Ponder. There is no documentation or
proof of
this relationship found to date . I am not certain where the names
of these
children came from. Oct 1988.

!The Ponder Family History, 21 typed pages, provided me by Mrs.
Catherine
Ponder of Houston, Oct 1988, noted Daniel Ponder to be in Buffalo
Gap, Augusta
Co, VA, in 1763, noted issue of Daniel as Silas, Amos, Daniel, John
Lewis,
James, Malinda, Mary Ann, and Jemima...also notes that their father
(Daniel)
came to Oglethorpe Co, GA, and then to Jasper. Was this the Daniel
in Abbeville
Co, SC in 1790?

!Buffalo gap, VA is near the Maryland line where "the original
Daniel was in
1750." From Ponder notes provided me by Catherine Ponder of TX.

!Notes from Catherine Ponder of Houston reads "In 17__ three
brothers came from
Scotland to America, settling in Virginia and then South Carolina.
They were
Daniel, James, and Abner Ponder. Abner settled in South Carollina
and had a
least two children: James and Amos Ponder." NOTE DANIEL MAY HAVE
BEEN BORN IN
SCOTLAND!!!

!Family tradition is that Daniel had brothers who went to Georgia:
James, Amos,
and John. (See page 179 of Dunston-Walker-Ponder)

!11/12/1988 Jerry Ponder of Fairdealing, MO, writes "Recently I
learned of a
family Bible of Daniel Ponder, thought by many to be Abner Ponder's
father,
dating back to Buffalo Gap, VA, now in the possession of William P.
Ponder,
Madison, GA. I have asked for copies of the data pages in the Bible
but
haven't heard back from him. Anyway, there are now know to be two
Bibles
in existance (Other one is that of Amos Ponder referred to in letter
of 1904 by
Willis Miles Ponder, g son of Abner) which may hold the key to many
questions
about Abner Ponder...As soon as I learn anything, I will get the
information
right ouit to all of the serious Ponder researchers."

!Newsstory appearing in the Hickman Co. Times, 13 Dec 1989, notes
that Daniel
and family moved to York Co, SC, about 1770 and during the Rev. War
Abner and
several of his brothers bought in the Battles of Kings mountains and
Cowpens.
Afterwards, they enlisted for six additional months as members of
the SC
Militia.

!(See file of Daniel Ponder for information relative to his service
in the Rev.
War. Daniel Ponder served in the Rev. War under Capt Andrew Byrd
1761 (Ref.
Public Library, Staunton, VA)

!Abstracts from the records of Augusta Co, VA show "Jemima Ponder
relinquished
dower in land conveyed by her husband Daniel Ponder to Joseph
Rutherford Nov
18, 1763, page 146, Order Book VIII.

!Source: "Ponder: History of Name, p 5: Daniel Pondewr, Juror, Order
Book XI, p
517!Daniel Ponder, Juror, Order Book XI p 517, Mar 1768, p 333. Vounty
Judgments, May 1765- Daniel Ponder vs Wm. Cabeen Acct 1759 for
wintering 9 pack
horses fgor his
his Majesty's service
per your order at 35 shillings per head #16,150. One of said horses
died in
February by eating wheat, discounted (before Francis Tyler) the
same, total
#16.0.0 Sworn to 18 Nov 1762 bef Francis Tyler. Additional
references to
Daniel Ponder and wife Jemima as late as 1768. No further record
has been
found on them since about that time.

!Letter to me from _____ notes that Jemima's husband Daniel Ponder
was likely
son of Richard Ponder d 1748 Queen Ann Co MD or John Ponder d 1719
Sussex Co,
Del. Richard and John were the sons of John Ponder Will 1703 Talbot
Co, MD and
Mary Shephard. Mary was the dau of Francis Shepherd, Will 1691
Talbott Co, MD.

!See file of John Ponder for a copy from the Microfiche which
includes the
wills of both Richard Ponder proved 1748 and will of John Ponder
made in 1719.
Both mention a son Daniel Ponder. Richard has sons John, James Wm,
Daniel,
Hanna, Anna, Rachel, Sarah and Ann Ponder. John has issue: John Jr,
James,
Daniel, and daughters Sarah, Margaret and ?Rosanna Ponder.

Daniel married Jemima BENNETT on 23 Aug 1751 in Delaware, Delaware, Iowa. Jemima (daughter of Stephen BENNETT and Margaret PONDER) was born in 1724 in Sussex, Delaware, British Colonial America; died about 1784 in South Carolina. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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• FamilySearch ID: LCJD-X8Q
• Name: Jemima ( Ponder) BENNETT
• Name: Jemima Jehu BENNETT
• Reference Number: 81
• _UID: 1B5520D4459C48C1B3BD6F7F78DE719E118A

Notes:

!Source: Ponder Genealogy, written by J. Bennett Hill, 1970, p 6.
Jemima was still living in 26 Oct 1784 when her mother named her in
her will.
leaving her one shilling. Jemima was also named in her father's
will, Stephen
Bennett of the County of Sussex in the Province of Pennsylvania on
Delaware on
23 Aug 1751 who died before 19 Jan 1753. He was 53 years of age.

!"Jemima Ponder relinquished dower in land conveyed by her husband
Daniel
Ponder to Joseph Rutherford Nov 18, 1763, page 146, Order Book III of
Chalkey's Vol III Abstracts from the records of Augusta Co, VA."

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• Reference Number: 160
• _UID: 3197ED77192540FDB247BF2B535AA13E16BE

Notes:

!Source: Gena Oelrich of Prodigy, FWTB62A. I do not believe that it
has been
documented that Daniel is the father of this family. I have asked
Gena to send
me whatever Pat Saupe has developed.

!Rita B. Denman of 1008 Blue Ridge Pl, Richardson, TX, 214-235-7808
notes
in her pedigree that she feels that Daniel is the son of John Ponder
of Sussex
Co, DE.

Daniel married Unknown (PONDER). Unknown and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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• Reference Number: 161
• _UID: FD32C4B3F3C24BB59A7D0B904D7FE36723BD

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• FamilySearch ID: KLZC-5WJ
• Reference Number: 162
• _UID: 01C463829B3F4E0C972687D03FFFD73F46E3

Notes:

!J. Bennet Hill's The Bennett Family of Sussex Co, DE, p 6
Stephen Bennett was the youngest son of John Bennett and Sarah Furnis.
See Bennett genealogy by J. Bennett Hill, p 5 for additional
information.
Stephen is described as being the youngest son of John Bennett and
Sarah
Furnis. No further information on the other children of this
marriage.

Stephen married Margaret PONDER in 1723 in MD?. Margaret was born about 1700 in MD; died in 1784 in MD. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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• FamilySearch ID: KLZZ-ZGJ
• Reference Number: 163
• _UID: 4A9BF4D4F7FB4F478F62B0336E9495AD4D53

Notes:

SOURCE CITATION:
Title: FamilySearch on Internet
Author: John Bennett Genealogy