Joseph Clay Powell was born at "Coolmore" Plantation in Edgecombe Co, NC, youngest of 3 sons (and the only surviving son), of wealthy planter Dr. Joseph J. W. Powell and Martha B. Whitaker. His father built Coolmore Plantation (ca. 1858-1860)one finest antebellum complexes, and a splendid Italianate villa designed by Baltimore architect E. G. Lind.
He is the paternal grandson of William H. Powell & Mary Harrison of Edgecombe; and gr-grandson of Lewis Powell & Helen Cotton of Bertie Co. He is a direct descendant of George Powell & Anne Connor who came to NC from Norfolk Co, VA in the 1730's.
He was a child of 4 when his father died in April 1861. When NC seceded from the Union the following month, both his older brothers (Richard & Henry) only aged 15 and 16, enlisted, and were later killed in battle. He and his widowed mother would be all that was left of the family to continue on.
Joseph graduated UNC and became a cotton exporter and farmer, eventually taking over ownership of his father's "Coolmore" plantation, after his mother's death in 1892. He also joined the North Carolina National Guard where he was Inspector General 1st Brigade (1894) and Captain, Company "A", 1st Regiment (1899).
Joseph married Lucy L. Wimberly on February 6, 1895 when he was 38 years old, and she 34. She was the daughter of Joseph W. Wimberly and Martha Lawrence of Edgecombe County. The marriage was short-lived, as Lucy died just 9 months into the marriage.
Joseph remained a widower until March 12, 1901, when at age 44 he married 25-year old Nina B. Knight, daughter of Elisha Cromwell Knight and Rebecca Barnaby Pitt of Conetoe, Edgecombe County. The couple would have 3 known children in quick succession: Mary Collins Powell (1902), Martha Powell (1903), and Joseph Clay Powell, Jr. (1904).
Joseph Powell died in 1909, just one year shy of his 10th Wedding Anniversary. He was 52 years old. He was buried at Coolmore Plantation, but they graves there were moved to Greenwood Cemetery in 1919.
His 33-year old widow never remarried, and remained at Coolmore where she raised their 3 children. Nina passed in 1938, at age 62, leaving the family home and lands to her son, Joseph Clay Powell, Jr.
He is the paternal grandson of William H. Powell & Mary Harrison of Edgecombe; and gr-grandson of Lewis Powell & Helen Cotton of Bertie Co. He is a direct descendant of George Powell & Anne Connor who came to NC from Norfolk Co, VA in the 1730's.
He was a child of 4 when his father died in April 1861. When NC seceded from the Union the following month, both his older brothers (Richard & Henry) only aged 15 and 16, enlisted, and were later killed in battle. He and his widowed mother would be all that was left of the family to continue on.
Joseph graduated UNC and became a cotton exporter and farmer, eventually taking over ownership of his father's "Coolmore" plantation, after his mother's death in 1892. He also joined the North Carolina National Guard where he was Inspector General 1st Brigade (1894) and Captain, Company "A", 1st Regiment (1899).
Joseph married Lucy L. Wimberly on February 6, 1895 when he was 38 years old, and she 34. She was the daughter of Joseph W. Wimberly and Martha Lawrence of Edgecombe County. The marriage was short-lived, as Lucy died just 9 months into the marriage.
Joseph remained a widower until March 12, 1901, when at age 44 he married 25-year old Nina B. Knight, daughter of Elisha Cromwell Knight and Rebecca Barnaby Pitt of Conetoe, Edgecombe County. The couple would have 3 known children in quick succession: Mary Collins Powell (1902), Martha Powell (1903), and Joseph Clay Powell, Jr. (1904).
Joseph Powell died in 1909, just one year shy of his 10th Wedding Anniversary. He was 52 years old. He was buried at Coolmore Plantation, but they graves there were moved to Greenwood Cemetery in 1919.
His 33-year old widow never remarried, and remained at Coolmore where she raised their 3 children. Nina passed in 1938, at age 62, leaving the family home and lands to her son, Joseph Clay Powell, Jr.
Joseph Clay Powell was born at "Coolmore" Plantation in Edgecombe Co, NC, youngest of 3 sons (and the only surviving son), of wealthy planter Dr. Joseph J. W. Powell and Martha B. Whitaker. His father built Coolmore Plantation (ca. 1858-1860)one finest antebellum complexes, and a splendid Italianate villa designed by Baltimore architect E. G. Lind.
He is the paternal grandson of William H. Powell & Mary Harrison of Edgecombe; and gr-grandson of Lewis Powell & Helen Cotton of Bertie Co. He is a direct descendant of George Powell & Anne Connor who came to NC from Norfolk Co, VA in the 1730's.
He was a child of 4 when his father died in April 1861. When NC seceded from the Union the following month, both his older brothers (Richard & Henry) only aged 15 and 16, enlisted, and were later killed in battle. He and his widowed mother would be all that was left of the family to continue on.
Joseph graduated UNC and became a cotton exporter and farmer, eventually taking over ownership of his father's "Coolmore" plantation, after his mother's death in 1892. He also joined the North Carolina National Guard where he was Inspector General 1st Brigade (1894) and Captain, Company "A", 1st Regiment (1899).
Joseph married Lucy L. Wimberly on February 6, 1895 when he was 38 years old, and she 34. She was the daughter of Joseph W. Wimberly and Martha Lawrence of Edgecombe County. The marriage was short-lived, as Lucy died just 9 months into the marriage.
Joseph remained a widower until March 12, 1901, when at age 44 he married 25-year old Nina B. Knight, daughter of Elisha Cromwell Knight and Rebecca Barnaby Pitt of Conetoe, Edgecombe County. The couple would have 3 known children in quick succession: Mary Collins Powell (1902), Martha Powell (1903), and Joseph Clay Powell, Jr. (1904).
Joseph Powell died in 1909, just one year shy of his 10th Wedding Anniversary. He was 52 years old. He was buried at Coolmore Plantation, but they graves there were moved to Greenwood Cemetery in 1919.
His 33-year old widow never remarried, and remained at Coolmore where she raised their 3 children. Nina passed in 1938, at age 62, leaving the family home and lands to her son, Joseph Clay Powell, Jr.
He is the paternal grandson of William H. Powell & Mary Harrison of Edgecombe; and gr-grandson of Lewis Powell & Helen Cotton of Bertie Co. He is a direct descendant of George Powell & Anne Connor who came to NC from Norfolk Co, VA in the 1730's.
He was a child of 4 when his father died in April 1861. When NC seceded from the Union the following month, both his older brothers (Richard & Henry) only aged 15 and 16, enlisted, and were later killed in battle. He and his widowed mother would be all that was left of the family to continue on.
Joseph graduated UNC and became a cotton exporter and farmer, eventually taking over ownership of his father's "Coolmore" plantation, after his mother's death in 1892. He also joined the North Carolina National Guard where he was Inspector General 1st Brigade (1894) and Captain, Company "A", 1st Regiment (1899).
Joseph married Lucy L. Wimberly on February 6, 1895 when he was 38 years old, and she 34. She was the daughter of Joseph W. Wimberly and Martha Lawrence of Edgecombe County. The marriage was short-lived, as Lucy died just 9 months into the marriage.
Joseph remained a widower until March 12, 1901, when at age 44 he married 25-year old Nina B. Knight, daughter of Elisha Cromwell Knight and Rebecca Barnaby Pitt of Conetoe, Edgecombe County. The couple would have 3 known children in quick succession: Mary Collins Powell (1902), Martha Powell (1903), and Joseph Clay Powell, Jr. (1904).
Joseph Powell died in 1909, just one year shy of his 10th Wedding Anniversary. He was 52 years old. He was buried at Coolmore Plantation, but they graves there were moved to Greenwood Cemetery in 1919.
His 33-year old widow never remarried, and remained at Coolmore where she raised their 3 children. Nina passed in 1938, at age 62, leaving the family home and lands to her son, Joseph Clay Powell, Jr.
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Grave "Moved From Coolmore in 1919"
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