BENSON-PATE-UZZELL-JOHNSON -- NC-TN-AR-MO-IN-TX 1790-1860 I am new to this list. I will apologize right up front for the ultra-long post but I hope those who have had an interest in reading it will be able to provide a lead for me or suggestions for further research. I will be most happy to share what I have. I am searching for my elusive 2nd great grandfather, CULLEN BENSON, born December 21, 1818??? in MO???. My research for Cullen Benson has placed him in NC, MO, TN, AR, IN and TX. I have a wealth of information on him after he came to Texas but prior to that time, it is guess work, with some very strong clues. I believe that he has some connection to the UZZELL family (possibly his mother or grandmother) since he named his first child William UZZEL Benson (the ZZ later changed to SS). Census records of Cullen Benson say he was born in MO. I know that some Uzzell families went to MO and some were acquainted with Bensons either in MO or in Old Dobbs and Wayne County, NC, but I have never been able to tie them together or my Cullen Benson to MO. Cullen Benson also had children named Thomas E., James Henry and Nancy Agnes, all names that appear in the UZZELL family. While Thomas, James and Nancy are pretty common names, CULLEN and UZZELL are not. There is also a William Henry Benson in Johnston Co., NC 1850 census with children that have very similiar names as my Cullen Benson, i.e., John Uzell, William Cullen, James Richard, and Nancy. In addition, Cullen and a James Benson, whom I believe to be his brother, both married into the PATE family in Hardeman Co., TN. There were also PATE families in early Wayne Co., NC. Exhausting all my leads in the Benson line, I have begun to look at other families and locations where he may have lived for clues on connections to a family, thus my post to this list. Here is what I know of my Cullen Benson and those that I “believe” are my Cullen Benson from the earliest known record: 1. 1835 - Hardeman Co., TN marriage records show a Cullin Benson marriage to Edny PATE bondsman Uzzell Benson. I do not know if this marriage was solemnized. 2. 1836 Cullin Benson is shown as the bondsman for the marriage of James Benson to Elizabeth PATE 3. 1839 - Hardeman Co., TN marriage records show a Cullen Benson marriage to a Margaret Parmer. This marriage was not solemnized in Hardeman Co. according to the County Clerk. 4. 1840 census for Hardeman Co, TN shows a Cullin Benson 30-40? with one female 20-30. Living in adjacent McNairy Co., TN are Uzzell, James R., Wright, and the elder, Etheldred/Eldred/Etheal D./Dred Benson, all of whom I believe are related in some way to Cullen Benson in Hardeman County, TN. They were all shown in later census records as being born in NC. The “elder” Benson is shown as Dred Benson in the 1800 Wayne Co. NC census 26-44 yrs, along with William, Willes, John and Hestre Benson . In 1810 Sampson NC as Dred 26-44 yrs. No record found for 1820. By 1830 he was in Hardeman Co., TN listed as Ethael D. 50-60 yrs. and in 1840 in McNairy Co., TN as Etheldred 60-70 yrs with a wife 50-60 yrs., the last record I can find. DID HE MARRY AN UZZELL? 5. 1844 Cullen Benson shows up in Saline Co., AR-marriage to Jane Johnson. I have a certified copy of this record from the County Clerk. 6. About 1846, Cullen Benson joins the service to fight in the Mexican War in AR (I have not found this record. A fellow Benson researcher provided this information. If anyone can confirm this I would be most grateful. He did serve but I have yet to determine what state he actually joined the military. His last wife, Nancy Noble Benson's application for pension for his service in the Mexican War indicates he joined to serve in the Mexican war in IN. I haven't been able to confirm that either. 7. 1850 Saline Co., AR census for Jane Benson shows her as a “widow”, living with a Hubbard family (probably her parents. I believe Johnson was her last name from a previous marriage since she had 4 children when she married Cullen Benson.) 8. 1850 Victoria Co., TX marriage records show Cullen Benson’s marriage to Nancy Noble(my line) 9. 1850 census for Victoria Co., TX shows Cullen Benson to be born in MO age 30 with wife Nancy J. age 23 10. 1860 Cullen Benson is in Burnet Co. TX, living next to his father-in-law and brother-in-laws. All are horse and cattle ranchers 11. 1864 Cullen is scalped and killed by Kiowa Indians while chopping wood on his land in Hoover's Valley, Burnet Co., TX Thanks in advance for any help. It is much appreciated. There just has to be a marriage between the Benson and Uzzell lines somewhere around the late 1700s to early 1800s to about 1815. There are just too many Benson lines that have children with UZZELL in their names around that time. HELP!!! Alice Benson in Austin, Texas a descendant of...... Jesse Dea Benson, Jr. Jesse Dea Benson, Sr. William Uzzel/Ussel Benson Cullen Benson