Mary McNew born 1790 Washington Co, VA daughter of Edward d.1827
There have been several researchers that claim there are two Benjamin Cawoods in Washington Co, KY.In Mahanaim Cemetery there is a notation that Polly Cawood wife of Benjamin Cawood died 10/17/1823 age 33.In the Virginia Vital Records, Obituaries from the Family Visitor, p172:
" 11/15/1823 At Abingdon, Mrs. Cawood, wife of Mr. Benjamin Cawood.A villain approached the house and shot her with a rifle.Four persons are in custody on suspicion."I believe that this is the same Mrs. Cawood buried in Mahanaim Cemetery.Her age may be incorrect by 10 years.According to Washington Co, VA marriage records he married Polly Poston 8/31/1801.Other researchers claims that his wife was Mary Polly McNew born 1790, daughter of Edward McNew(died 1827 Washington Co, VA).In Edward McNew's will, he stated that his daughter was deceased and her children had already been provided for, but unfortunately does not give her married name.In the 1810 and 1820 censuses for Washington Co, VA Benjamin Cawood (1810 as KEYWOOD) had no children, and according to a Poston researcher, Mary Poston Cawood died childless.Some researchers have used a Tennessee history which quotes that the name of the 1801 bride was Mary Polly McNew, but she would have been 11 years old.That is preposterous.To make the McNew theory fit, some people have given a wedding date of 1818-1820.I cannot find ONE record anywhere that has a Mary Polly McNew marrying Benjamin Cawood/Caywood.Her twin sister, Tabitha McNew, married a Moses Cawood in 1807 (age 17!).Moses is probably a cousin of the much quoted Benjamin Cawood.I think that Mary McNew married Charles Marion Wheeler about 1812.Charles was the son of William Wheeler, a close neighbor of Edward McNew on the Holsten River near Tumbling Creek in Washington Co, VA.Charles Marion Wheeler had a son Edward McNew Wheeler in 1819.Charles lived in Wayne Co, KY in 1820 and his wife is deceased shortly after giving birth to her fourth child.Charles married Rachel Van Hooser/Hoover(original name was VanHuss) in 1821 in Wayne Co, KY.So, Mary, deceased wife of Charles Marion Wheeler fits with the will of Edward McNew as predeceasing her father and having children.Can anyone out there prove who was the wife of Benjamin Cawood?