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This is the first known Cantwell/Kentwell family history. It was written by 
James Francis Cantwell, January 23, 1906 in Worthington, Greene County, 
Indiana.



            A SHORT HISTORY OF GRANDFATHER AND GRANDMOTHER

My grandfather Kentwell, and grandmother were born in Cork, Ireland.  My 
grandfather Kentwell, or Cantwell, as we now write it, wanted to marry an 
Irish Lord's daughter.  Her father opposed the marriage.  They both agreed to 
flee to America.  They soon found friends to help for a runaway match.  The 
friends took charge of the affair.  They found when a ship would sail for 
America.  They procured a hogshead and placed her in it, hauled her to the 
landing and took her aboard ship and kept her concealed until the ship left 
the land.  Then she was taken out of the hogshead.  I don't know whether they 
were married on the vessel or not until they arrrived in America.  I have 
heard mother tell of the circumstances as told her by Grandfather Cantwell.  
Sometime after my grandfather came to America, he made a slight change in his 
name and wrote it Cantwell instead of Kentwell.

My father's name was James Cantwell.  He was married to Mary (Anna) Smith, 
daughter of Bastion and Anna Smith, in the year 1821 near Vincennes, Indiana, 
Elihu Stout performing the ceremony, he being a J.P.  They lived a year or two 
near Vincennes, then they moved to Coshocton, Ohio.  After some time they 
moved back to be near Vincennes.  Father died in 1839.

I, James Francis Cantwell, son of James and Mary Cantwell and grandson of 
Bastion and Anna Smith, and great grandson of Abraham and Anna Van Deusen, was 
born in Coshocton, Ohio, November 17, 1828.  I moved with father's family to 
Knox County, Indiana in the Spring of 1837, and lived and worked on the farm 
and married Margaret Harper, September 18, 1850, Knox County, Indiana, near 
Vincennes.  Rev. S.R. Alexander performed the ceremony, procured license from 
William R. McCord, Clerk, Knox Circuit Court.  Followed farming in 1852, both 
joined the Presbyterian Church and still remain in belief of doctrine as 
taught by said church.  In 1863, and during the great rebellion at President's 
call for three hundred thousand troops, enlisted for three years in Capt. W.R. 
Watson's Co. G, 80th Indiana Volunteer Infantry.  Was in many hard fought 
battles, was promoted to Captain of the Company, was mustered out at 
Salesbury, N.C., June 22, 1865.  Returned home July 10, 1865.  Followed 
farming until spring of 1870, moved to Worthington, Greene County, Indiana and 
was engaged in manufacturing brick which occupation I followed until 1890.  
Since that time have not engaged in any particular business.




What were the names of his grandparents?

His son, Samuel Scott Cantwell recorded a family history, "Cantwell 
Family", and names William Cantwell and Margaret O'Brien. 

In his book, "The Generation of the Upright" (1911), Edward Norton Cantwell 
also names William Cantwell and Margaret O'Brien.  [He documents the family of 
their son, William Cantwell (1776-1858) and wife, Nancy Ann Williams (1779-
1850)].  

And, according to our oral history, their names were William Cantwell and 
Margaret O'Brien. 

However, in 1989, John Dalzell Cantwell, Jr. published an "Addendum to The 
Generation of the Upright, Who Were the Parents of William and Nancy Ann 
(Williams) Cantwell", in which he develops a very strong case for 
Thomas Cantwell, Sr. and Margaret O'Brien.

In 1995, Barbara Weiford, researched and published, "The Cantwells of Ohio and 
West Virginia", referencing all these earlier works, and names Thomas 
Cantwell, Sr. and Margaret O'Brien.

For the purposes of this website, we decided to favor our oral history and 
James Francis Cantwell's early family history by beginning our family 
tree with William Cantwell, Sr. and his wife, Margaret O'Brien.



Sources:
1. "Cantwell Family" recorded by Samuel Scott Cantwell (1852-1939) and 
extended by Mrs. Lulu Gruelle 1950. 

2. "The Generation of the Upright" Compiled and Published by Edward Norton 
Cantwell, 1911, Fulton, Illinois, William B. Farver Press, Lyons, Iowa, 
Library of Congress. 

3. "Who Were the Parents of William and Nancy Ann (Williams) Cantwell, An 
Addendum to the Generation of the Upright by Edward Norton Cantwell (1911)", 
by John Dalzell Cantwell, Jr., President Emeritus: Cantwell-Conteville Family 
Association, 1989, Library of Congress. 

4. "The Cantwells of Ohio and West Virginia",(1995) by Barbara 
Weiford, Belpre, Ohio, Pro Print Press, 1995.  [She documents the family 
William and Mary Cantwell of Monroe Co. OH.]

5. Cantwell Family Bible, owned by Bill Gill of Coshocton County, Ohio. [The 
family of Hezakiah Cantwell and Mary A. Rundle.]

6. "Our Cantwell Family" July 1993, compiled by Martha Meeker.