Ansel / Anselm Goodman
(ca 1752 - 1840)
Based on his stated age of 80 in his 1832 Rev War petition, Ansel Goodman was b. about 1752, probably in Hanover County or Lunenburg County, VA, His parentage has not yet been determined with any certainty. Neither have I been able to positively identify any of his family, other than brother John Goodman, my own direct ancestor. Ansel married, probably about March 1777, to Edith (Edy) Brown, daughter of Thomas Brown (Re: Rev War Widow's Pension application of Jane (Brown) Craig).
As told in his petition, Ansel enlisted in July 1777 with about 50 others of Bedford Co, in the Company of Capt. Charles Gwatkins, who had come back to his home county to enlist volunteers to go the the relief of Boonesborough. This was called "The Kentucky Expedition" in one reference in "Virginia State Papers". In Signers of the Oath of Allegiance in Bedford Co., Virginia, published in Daughters of the American Revolution Magazine, December 1957, Vol. 91, p 1343, there is a list of exactly 50 Bedford men, including Charles Gwatkins, Ansel (listed as Auselom) Goodman, Jesse Copher, Benjamin Kelly and several others that were later captured with Boone at the Blue Licks making salt, all of whom signed the Oath on 1 September 1777. At this time, this appears to be the most definitive list of the members of the "Kentucky Expedition" from Bedford to Ft Boone. By how his name is shown on this list, Ansel's true and full name is also confirmed as Anselm. For an alphabetized list of the 1 Sept 1777 signors, see: Kentucky Expedition Members. Arabia Brown was also a member of this group, as described in Arabia Brown's Rev War Pension Application, for which Ansel was a testator. Arabia Brown may have been Ansel's brother-in-law, and also son of Thomas Brown.
Based on his land transactions with and proximity to Arabia / Raba Brown of Bedford Co., VA, and the given names of Robert in the families of his brother John / James Goodman, also of Bedford Co., VA, it now seems likely that he and John / James Goodman, father of my ancestor Amos I. Goodman, were probably both sons of Robert Goodman, of Hanover Co., who arrived in then Lunenburg Co., VA and bought land adjoining a Brown family Browns on Flat Rock Creek in 1759.
By his name, it is possible that he may have been related in some way to Charles Goodman of Albemarle, not as a son or brother, but possibly a nephew. Bedford Co., (later Campbell Co.) was also the residence of Bartellot Goodman, b. ca. 1730, a French & Indian War veteran, of Louisa Co., VA, and a number of whose descendants also migrated through Kentucky and settled in Indiana.
Ansel Goodman sold his Bedford Co. land in 1788, probably removing first to Stokes Co., NC, where Ansylem Goodman is recorded in the 1790 census with wife, two male and 3 female children, then to Adair Co., KY, where he appears in the census in 1810 and 1820. Andrew and Jesse and Ansle (sic.) Goodman were also in Adair 1810 census, and were of an age to be possible sons of Ansel. Ansel Sr and his wife, with no children, plus Andrew, Ansel Jr and a John Goodman, all with children, are in the Adair 1820 census. Adair was divided in 1825/6 to form Russell Co., where Ansel Sr is listed in 1830 census, and he made his application for a Rev. War pension in October, 1832. Arabia Brown, his old Bedford Co., VA neighbor, "Kentucky Expedition" member and friend, being one of the testators. In the 1830 census, presumed sons Ansel and Martin Goodman are in Spencer Co., IN.
A Martin Goodman is listed with land warrant in Adair Co., KY, in 1822, for 50 ac. on Roaring Lilly Creek. This is probably the Martin G. Goodman b 1798 in TN, who later removed to Indiana with wife Nancy, who was born in Adair Co., KY in 1801. An Anslow (sic. Anselm/Ansel?) Goodman had land warrant for 50 ac. on Big Lilly Creek, Adair Co., also in 1822. Based on dates and proximity, Martin and Anslow were probably related, and probably brothers. They may have been sons of Ansel Goodman, as Ansel also lived in Adair Co. at that same time.
Another Martin Goodman, b ca 1820 in KY, is later found in Grass Twp., Spencer Co, IN 1850 with son Ancil. According to other researchers closer to this family, the elder Martin Goodman's children did not include another Martin Goodman. In addition to the elder Ansolom (sic.) Goodman, believed to be Ansel b. ca 1752, a younger Ansle (sic.) Goodman is also listed in the 1810 Adair Co., KY census, so this one could have been the father of the Martin Goodman b. ca 1820 of Indiana. In any case, the Ancil name in the 1850 census, the common name of Martin, and their earlier residence in Adair Co., KY, seems to place this line as descended from Ansel Goodman b. ca. 1752.
