"The Hoodenpyl Coat-of-Arms bears a great many
remarkable devices representing special acts of
valor and service to the Mother Country."

Hoodenpyl site update

New (and wonderful) information:
Philip & Jane Hoodenpyl Family Bible.
Thanks to an email sent by Dallas Lacy,
a descendant, we now have names and
dates to add to our Hoodenpyl heritage.
  Click here to view the
Philip & Jane Hoodenpyl Bible

Migration from Philadelphia to North Carolina

In Philadelphia, Philip entered the retail business.  He
came to America with a patrimony of $75,000 in sterling
from an inheritance.  The retail venture was unsuccessful and
 his wife returned to Holland with their son.  Philip stayed in
 America and they divorced.  It's my opinion that his stay in
Philadelphia was short because he had migrated south to
Burke Co. NC by April 1786, where he purchased his first
acreage.  Burke was created in 1777 from Rowan County.

 The Mormon Dutch records show a  Philipus Hoodenpyl married
Helena Key, 11 Jun 1780 in Rotterdam, Zuid Holland in the
Brigade Scottish Church.  If this is our Philip, did he actually
migrate to America in 1780 or possibly a couple of
years later?  He, supposedly, migrated with wife and son.
Quoting from the Phillip Hoodenpyl Manuscript by P. J. Norwood:

"...he (Phillip) resolved to cast his fortunes with the young Republic,
the Revolutionary War having just closed and the
independence of the infant colonies
having been effected...."

NOTE: It is not my intention to imply that our Philip first married
Helena Key and please don't enter it into your research.  This is a
"working research site" giving clues, suggestions and actual proof to
help establish facts in regard to the Hoodenpyl family.  As per the above
marriage, my statement: "The time period and place of marriage favors the
possibility but no source has been found stating it thus."

Philip Remarries

About 1786, he married Jane Rounsavall,
she of Huguenot descent.  Jane was born 4 Nov 1770,
probably NC.  See Rounsaval and (Were Mary & Jane
Sisters, below), in regard  to Jane's lineage.

Carolyn Carr Zimmerman shared this
authentic picture of Jane.  I was
stunned when Carolyn told me of its
existence.

Jane has been deceased over a hundred
years, yet we have this tangible that
still survives.
We strive for names and dates to fill our
charts, but to have a photograph of
this quality is almost beyond belief!

Carolyn, what can we say?  Because of
your generousity, Jane and Dorcus
now live, not only in our hearts, but
in our minds as well!

Philip's first Land Entry in North Carolina

"20 Apr 1786.  Phillip Hoodenpyle Entry of an hundred and fifty
acres of land in Burke County adjoining land of George Settles
Entry and up both sides of Toms Creek..."

~Burke County (NC) Land Entries 1778-1795, Vol. 1 - S.S. 949
Source: "NC State Archives & Library  - Land Entries, Vol. 1,
1778-1795, Burke Co. NC" -  Copy made from original record book.

1790 Burke Co. NC Census

Philip is listed with 2 males 16 years and upward, 3 white males
under 16, and 5 white females on the 1790 Burke Co. NC Census.
 He, Jane, daughter Isabella and daughter Sarah "Sallie" are proven
household members per the Family Bible.
 But, per records, (I've obtained copies from the NC Archives and Library),
he also cared for orphans serving their apprenticeships.
  By having established an inn, tavern and ferry on the
French Broad River at Warm Springs, he would have
needed much help, so some of these account for the
additionals in his household.

One of Buncombe's first Justices

When Buncombe Co. was formed from Burke in 1791-92,
Philip was one of the first seven justices and served
in that capacity until 1801.

April 16th A.D. 1792.

"And be it further enacted ...that Philip Hoodenpyl, William Brittain
and Lemuel Clayton are hereby appointed commissioners to fix on the
central place in said county for the purpose of erecting a court house,
prison and stocks;...."
~"A History of Buncombe County, N.C." p. 445 & 457 by Sondley 

Indian Uprising

A great story to enlighten in regard to frontier life!

"Ph. Hoodenpyl maketh oath that his reason for not attending in the first of this Court
as a Juror for Buncombe County is that he the Depon't. was hindered by reason of the
delay of a person he had sent over into the Territorys to execute some business for
him the Depon't, who did not return until Monday 2nd day and that said person did
bring tidings that depradation was commited by the Indians about four miles below
Cole Robinsons and that two men came into the Settlement and made oath that they
counted 400 Indians well equipt for war making on toward Little Pidgeon & French
Broad and that the peoples in the Territorys sent the inhabitants on this side the
Bald Woods to be on their guards that the Depon'ts family was uneasy at the
Intelligence and that the Depon't stayed at home a few days for the ease of his familys
mind in hopes your Honors would Excuse him for so doing in consideration of his
attending last Sep't Court as a Juror and willing to cover the remaining part of this
Court.  (Signed) Ph. Hoodenpyl   (original signature)
Sworn to in Open Court Sept. 11th 1793 _____ Clk.
~Civil Action Papers file of Burke Co. at the North Carolina Archives.

Hoodenpyl Miscellaneous Items - Click Here

MEMBERS OF THE NORTH CAROLINA ASSEMBLY (LEGISLATURE)
FROM BUNCOMBE CO. 1796

James & William Brittain & Philip Hoodenpyle were members of the House of Commons
(Representatives) in 1796.   Senators comprised the Legislature's other governing body.

~Plays violin left-handed~

A humorous story!

 "There is a tradition that in 1796, he (Thomas Love) had been a candidate
against Philip Hoodenpile who represented Buncombe in the commons that
year, but was defeated.  For Hoodenpile could play the violin, and all of
Love's wiles were powerless to keep the political Eurydices from following
after this fiddling Orpheus.

But Love bided his time, and when the campaign of 1797 began, he charged
Hoodenpile with showing contempt for the common herd by playing the violin
before them with his left hand; whereas, when he played before 'the quality,'
as Love declared, Hoodenpile always performed with his right hand.

This charge was repeated at all the voting places of the county, which bore
such significant names as Upper and Lower Hog Thief, Hardscrabble,
Pinch Stomach, etc.  Hoodenpile, who of course, could play only with his left
hand, protested and denied; but the virus of class-feeling had been aroused,
and Hoodenpile went down in defeat, never to rise again,
while Love remained in Buncombe."

  ~"Western North Carolina A History 1730 - 1913" by John Preston Arthur

French Broad River
at Warm Springs, NC
(now Hot Springs)

Picture by Tammy Rogers

Bishop Francis Asbury Comes To Call

October 25, 1809 Bishop Francis Asbury wrote in his Journal: "We crossed
the French Broad, and fed our horses at the gate of Mr. Wootenpile
(Hoodenpile); he would accept no pay but perhaps as I had never called
before, he may have thought me too proud to stop."

~ "A History of Buncombe County, N.C. "p. 682

Note:

Why hadn't the Bishop stopped at Philip's previously on his journey's?  
 This entry has been enterpreted in several ways.   If anyone has access
 to the original Journal, please record this entry and relate accuracy.
Some researchers state that it says; "...he would accept no pay but prayer
as I had never called before, he may have thought me too
proud to stop."

The Hoodenpyl Turnpike

In 1812, Philip was in charge of building a road "from the Turnpike
Road on the East side of the river (French Broad) to cross the river
at the ferry...until you strike the Turnpike Road on the West side
of French Broad to wit..."

~"Road Docket Buncombe County, North Carolina "- 1812, p. 8, 9, 10

"It is certain, however, that in 1812 Hoodenpile had charge of a road
from Warm Springs to Newport, Tenn., and was under contract to
keep it in repair from the 'top of Hopewell Hill (now Stackhouse) to
the Tennessee line.'"

~"Western North Carolina a History 1730 - 1923" by John Preston Arthur,
                                                                              p. 222 & 234

"In December 1812, Bishop Asbury asks, 'Why should we climb over
the desperate Spring and Paint mountains when there is such
a fine new road?' 

"This must have been the Hoodenpyle road from Warm Springs to
Newport, Tenn., which he was under contract to keep in order from
Hopewell Hill to the Tennessee line.  This road follows Paint creek
one mile and then crosses the mountains...."

 ~Ibid, p. 234

Note:

The following from:
"Bishop Asbury Comes To Holston" Written by: Bishop Francis Asbury,
Marvin Kincheloe, Robert L. Hilten,1984 Bicentennial, Holston Annual Conference

"Monday 30 November 1812.  We stopped at Michael Bollen's on
our route where I gave them a discourse on Luke 11:11-13.  Why
should we climb over the desperate Spring and Paint Mountains
when there is such a fine new road? (Philip Hoodenpile's road from
the Tennessee line to Hot Springs, North Carolina)."

Click Here To View Pages From
One of Phillip's Bible Commentaries

   Click Here To View
Phillip's Original Coat of Arms

When did Philip begin his migration farther west?

Philip was a wealthy landowner in Buncombe County.  Numerous
transactions are in the deed records where he was both grantee
and grantor of large parcels of land.  He's shown on the 1810
Buncombe Co. NC Census  (p. 287).  The last of his land appears
 to have been sold 1812/1813.  Was this the beginning of his
westward migration, eventually to Pikeville, Bledsoe Co. TN?

Is the following entry a clue?

July Court 1812

"Ordered by Court that John Welsh have privileges of erecting a
ferry across French Broad River below the Warm Springs at the
same place PHILIP HOODENPYL formerly had and
to land on the opposite side...."

~Road Docket Buncombe Co. NC 1812 - p. 8

Was his first stop Huntsville Landing on the Tennessee River?

"He (Phillip) moved to Huntsville Landing on the Tennessee River in the
territory of Mississippi, where John Welch of Haywood, agreed to deliver
to him on or before the first of May 1813, 2,667 gallons of 'good proof
whiskey'; and on or before 14 August 1814, 1,500 gallons of the same gloom-
dispelling elixir, for value received.  No wonder Philip Hoodenpile
could play the fiddle with his left hand!"

 ~"Western North Carolina A History 1730 - 1913" p. 234, by John Preston Arthur

Philip's stay at Huntsville Landing would have been short
lived as he was in Bledsoe Co. TN in 1813.

Philip's Arrival In
Bledsoe County, Tennessee

Elizabeth Robnett, (Bledsoe County Historian), lists Philip as an early
settler and states, "Phillip Hoodenpyle, a well educated man, a native
of Holland was living in Bledsoe County in 1813 as he petitioned the
Tennessee General Assembly, 'to go into sheep raising on Cumberland
Plateau on 300 acres of land.'  He claims it is,'no good
except for sheep raising.'"

~"Bledsoe County, Tennessee - A History" by Elizabeth Parham Robnett
c 1993 - pp. 14 - 15

Philip was again prosperous in Bledsoe where he purchased
land on Glade Creek in Sequatchie Valley.  The first entry
I've found was in 1817 when he purchased 364 acres on
Sequoyah Creek.    (Deed Bk. B, p. 235)

In 1819, he purchased Lot 46 in the Town of Pikeville, one
of the original 50 lots.  (Deed Bk. C, p. 305) In 1820 there are
entries for slaves.  Many deeds from 1817 - 1832 are found
in Deed Books for Bledsoe Co. or in Tennessee Land Grants.
It's said he laid out the Town of
Pikeville but there is no documented proof.

He had an educated mind and wrote a treatise on
Mathematics with an emphasis on surveying, but...

What became of Philip's beloved manuscripts?

This treatise, along with several other writings were donated to the Tennessee
State Library & Archives.   In 1983, I researched in the Archives for the
treatise and commentary.  They could not be found among the records.  I then
inquired by letter as to their whereabouts.  I received the following letter dated
August 26, 1983, from John H. Thweatt, Senior Archivist:

"After going through our acquisition records and minutes for the Tennessee
Historical Society, we find that the commentary was officially received by the
Society as noted in the minutes of September 13, 1881,'from George W.
Hoodenpyle, McMinnville, through Robert T. Quarles, Esq. - a number of
manuscripts written from 1823 - 1832, by his grandfather,
Phillip Hoodenpyle, Senior, of Sequatchie Valley, when he was 76 to 85 years
of age.  The writings consist of a work on Trigonometry and several
religious disquisitions, and one remarkable for their fine penmanship, as well
as the substantial truths enunciated.'"

Mr. Thweatt continued, "We now know that the documents in question were
placed in the holdings of the Society.  Nonetheless, we have been unable to
locate the commentaries in spite of exhaustive search through our holdings.
We have not given up in our efforts to locate these manuscripts...."

Note:

George W. Hoodenpyle was a son of Phillip Gysberti, Jr. &
Phoebe Smith Hoodenpyle.  His daughter, Flora Louise
Hoodenpyle, great granddaughter of Philip, Sr., married
Robert Quarles of Nashville.  Robert was state archivist of
Tennessee for many years and their son, Robert Quarles, Jr.,
followed his father in that position.

There are many unidentified documents in the Archives.  Surely, Philip's
papers are among them.  Wouldn't it be great if these documents were to
be uncovered and we could view these writings of our ancestor?  Until they
are re-discovered, each of us will feel a deep sense of loss and deprivation!

Note:

Since I went online with this page, I've found a letter in my files in regard to
the Manuscripts.   Here's an excerpt written to Mr. John H. Thweatt, Senior
Archivist, 9/20/1983.   Name of writer (Historian) private.

"...The writings of Phillip Hoodenpyle may be in State Library or Archives.
 It is hard to recall, but ? is trying to remember in the early 1950's,
Mr. Quarles who worked in the Archives was a descendant of the
Hoodenpyles & told me or showed me the books.  Mr. Quarles, now deceased,
was living in Nashville with his aged Mother...."

Philip's Death

Died in Bledsoe Co. TN

Philip & Jane Rounsavall Hoodenpyl's Bible
lists Philip's death as 28 Jul 1834
(This is probably the correct date)

Benjamin & Mary Hoodenpyl Marbury's Bible
lists Philip's death as 25 August 1833.

John and Jane Hoodenpyl Billingsley's Bible
lists Philip's death as 28 Jul 1834, aged 78 years.

 "Phillip, having an educated and cultivated mind, was an omniverous reader and
as his life declined...determined to spend the remainder of his years in writing a
commentary on the bible for each of his children, giving his views on what he
termed the errors of the theologians in teaching and preaching.  So intent did he
become on this task he set for himself, that he devoted several years prior to his
death, to it to the exclusion of everything else.  Even the approach of the grim
destroyer found him at work and the pen was taken from his trembling fingers
a few hours before his death...."

    ~ (Excerpt) Phillip Hoodenpyl Manuscript by P.J. Norwood, Cleburne,                                        
                                                          TX - August 1, 1892

Click to view the Peter J. Norwood Manuscript in its entirety.

Jane's Death

Died in Bledsoe Co. TN

Philip & Jane Rounsavall Hoodenpyl's Bible
lists Jane's death 3 Oct 184?

Benjamin & Mary Hoodenpyl Marbury's
Bible lists Jane's death 4 Oct 1845.

John & Jane Hoodenpyl Billingsley's Bible
lists Jane's death 3 Nov 1845 aged 75 years.

John & Jane Hoodenpyl Billingsley Lineage
per descendant Dallas Lacy

(Note: Jane was John's Second Marriage.
He had 10 children by his first wife
Martha Blackwood Billingsley.
John and Jane had 9 children listed below.)

1. Theola Mary Billingsley
b 14 Oct 1832
(Shown in Hoodenpyl Bible
as Theolia M. Billingsley)

2. Philip Marshall Billingsley
b 28 Sep 1834
(Shown in Hoodenpyl Bible
as Philip M. Billingsley)

3. Amanda M. Billingsley
b 29 Oct 1836
(Shown in Hoodenpyl Bible
as Emanda M. Billingsley)

4. Hixey O. Billingsley
b 3 Nov 1838

5. Viola C. Billingsley
b 15 May 1841

6. Leander Travis Billingsley
b 20 Oct 1843

7. Statira A. Billingsley
b 15 Dec 1845

8. Sarah Flora Billingsley
b 15 Nov 1847

9. Evalista Jane Billingsley
b 6 Apr 1853
m John L. Swafford
(Evalista is the grandmother of Dallas Lacy who
provided the Bible pages.  The Billingsley children
and dates were taken from the book:
"The Billingsley Family in America"
by Harry Alexander Davis
Copyrighted 1936 by The Tuttle Pub. Co., Inc.
Rutland, Vermont)

Click Here For
Dorcus Arminda Hoodenpyl Shockley Picture

Were Jane Rounsavall (wife of Philip)
&
Mary Rounsavall (wife of Leonard Marbury) sisters?

Please read the following with the understanding that these are my views only.
I have no documented proof,  but I believe my research has shown a strong
possibility that Mary Rounsavall Marbury and
Jane Rounsavall Hoodenpyl were sisters.
I've constructed times, events and records to determine my theory.

Benjamin Rounsavall (Sr.) and family migrated from New Jersey to
Rowan Co. NC abt 1750 - 1753. Benjamin had two known sons,
Josiah & David.  Josiah, born abt 1728 in New Jersey, married
Sarah Conger, daughter of John Conger.  I believe Josiah and Sarah
are the parents of Mary Rounsavall who married Leonard Marbury,
and Jane Rounsavall who married Philip Hoodenpyl.

When Philip Hoodenpyl migrated to North Carolina from Philadelphia
early 1780's -1786, the most likely route was the old wagon road to
Salisbury, Rowan Co.  This road extended southward from
Philadelphia through the Shenandoah Valley into Rowan County and
Salisbury on the Yadkin River.  It was here that I think he met
and married Jane.  Jane wasn't the daughter of Benjamin Rounsavall
(Sr.)  He had remarried to the widow Margaret Enochs in 1774 and
they were both elderly.  Benjamin died in 1778.
Benjamin (Sr.'s) other son, David, had migrated to Tennessee and
became one of the founders of Nashborough, which would later
become Nashville.

Benjamin (Sr.) operated a ferry on the Yadkin River for many years.
Philip Hoodenpyl operated the same type business on the French
Broad River in Warm Springs, NC.  Where did Philip attain this
knowledge?  I surmise he encountered this mode of river passage on
his migration south, and also, from his short stint in the Rowan Co.
area where he met the Rounsavalls.

Jane was born 4 Nov 1770, so her age would have fallen within
the marriageable teenage years.  According to the
Hoodenpyl Family Bible, Philip was 13 years older than Jane.

Her older sister, Mary Rounsavall, had married Leonard Marbury in
Rowan Co., 5 Dec 1780.  Mary was born 18 Mar 1760, making her
ten years older than Jane.

 Benjamin Rounsavall (Jr.) signed Leonard and Mary's marriage bond.
He was a Jr.  I know this because of the exact signature on another
document he signed in Rowan Co.  I believe he was Mary and Jane's
brother and was called Jr. to distinguish him from his grandfather
Benjamin (Sr) who died in 1778 in Rowan Co.  Josiah didn't sign
Leonard and Mary's marriage bond because he was serving in the
Revolutionary War, was taken prisoner 21 Jun 1780 and
died the same year.

About 1802, Leonard and Mary Rounsavall Marbury migrated a little
farther west from Montgomery Co. NC to Buncombe Co. NC.  Why
Buncombe?  Was it because Mary's sister, Jane, lived there?
According to Leonard Marbury, in his application for pension papers, he
lived in Montgomery Co. NC,  8 or 10 years, then Buncombe Co.
10 -12 years, then to Warren Co. TN.  So, Leonard was in the
Buncombe Co. area by 1802 and left 1812 - 1814.

Were the Hoodenpyl's and Marbury's together in Buncombe because
they were relatives?  If what I believe is true, Benjamin Marbury and
Mary Hoodenpyl were first cousins.  Cousins did marry each other
quite often in those days because the choices were limited on the
frontier.  According to records, Philip Hoodenpyl and Benjamin
Marbury left Buncombe Co. for Tennessee about the same time.

So...were Mary & Jane sisters?

Click Here For Aletha's
      Master Site List

Click Here for Aletha's
  Master Surname List

"Gysberti Hoodenpyl, ancestor of Phillip, helped to build the original
dykes in Holland and was knighted for this achievement."

~Article, Warren County News, Warren Co. TN - January 19, 1982, p. 6-B

Note:

If you have a notion to pursue our Dutch heritage in The Netherlands,
I submit the followingnotation from Mormon records:

Pieter Philipes Hoodenpijl married Willemina Franke Van Der Velden
30 Mar 1701 - Schiedam, Zuid Holland.
Have these been researched by anyone?
Keep in mind that the Dutch tradition was to name the first born
son (Peter) after the Paternal Grandfather and the
first born daughter (Isabella) after the Maternal Grandmother.

ST. JOHN 3:16 - From a Dutch Holy Bible

WANT ALZO LIEF HEEFT GOD DE WERELD GEHAD,
DAT HIJ ZIJN ENIGGEBOREN ZOON GEGEVEN
HEEFT, OPDAT EEN IEDER, DIE IN HEM GELOOFT,
NIET VERLOREN GA, MAAR EEUWIG LEVEN HEEBE.

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